An early warning system for earthquakes is based on the velocity difference of seismic waves and of signals transmitted via radio. The latter travel at the speed of light, so that information on the localization and magnitude of the earthquake can reach a target site seconds or tens of seconds before the arrival of large amplitude destructive seismic waves, depending on the distance from the earthquake source.



At any locality the low amplitude faster P waves arrive before the energy containing S and surface waves The time difference increases with epicentral distance.



AMRA has developed a prototype seismic early warning system based on a high-dynamic, high-density seismic network located in the Apennines, straddling the regions of Campania and Basilicata.
The network consists of high-dynamic velocity and strong motion sensors located around the Irpinia active faults, which are the main sources of hazard for the region. The early warning system is conceived as a system in which automatic decisional levels are distributed on the nodes of the seismic network itself. This is achieved by setting up Local Control Centres where information arrives (frequency, width, arrival time), processed in real time by each of the network nodes on the basis of first P impulses detected.
The information transmitted can reach the region’s industrial zones or larger towns and cities seconds or tens of seconds (depending on the distance from the earthquake epicentre) before destructive seismic waves. AMRA has also fully developed a probabilistic methodology for the selection criteria ruling the application of EEW.
The additional value of the AMRA team is the wide range of expertises, ranging from seismology to IST, to structural engineering to economists and lawyers, enabling complete feasibility studies including all the aspects of possible applications of EEW for practical purposes.

Possible Early Warning applications concern:

AMRA has been involved in the coordinating team of the EC FP6 SAFER (Seismic Early Warning for Europe), the main European Project dedicated to Early Warning. AMRA has contributed developing an improved version of its system, and exchanging information on methodologies and applications

AMRA has developed a prototype system fit for early warning of volcanic eruptions. It consists of network of borehole strain-meters, developed toether with the INGV – Osservatorio Vesuviano and the University of Salerno. Three boreholes are located within the Campi Flegrei active caldera and three are located in the area of Mt. Vesuvius. Each of them is equipped with a Sacks-Everton strain meter, at a depth of 120-200 m, and will be equipped with a large band seismometer. The obtained data indicate that the main achievement of the borehole network is an increase an about 100 fold increase of sensitivity in the detection of ground deformation and low energy earthquakes.



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