Swedish National Seismic Network launches new website

It is now easier to track earthquakes – both in Sweden and globally. The Swedish National Seismic Network (SNSN) at Uppsala University is launching a new website with maps showing earthquakes in near real time, improved data visualization, and the opportunity for the public to report if they feel an earthquake.

The new website makes information about seismic activity more accessible, faster, and clearer for the general public, the media, and authorities. The maps show earthquakes around the world and are updated continuously as new quakes are recorded.

SNSN Director Björn Lund is a familiar face in the media and is often interviewed when earthquakes occur, either in Sweden or abroad. SNSN is a government agency and is based at the Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University.

"The purpose of the new site is to make data on seismic activity more accessible, faster, and clearer for the general public, the media, and authorities. Our website is updated automatically within minutes of a tremor being recorded, 2–3 minutes for Swedish tremors, 10–15 minutes for those further away, and clearly shows which events are actual earthquakes and which are other ground movements, such as explosions or mine tremors, says Björn Lund, seismologist at the Department of Earth Sciences and director of SNSN.

The website also provides information for those traveling to areas with an increased risk of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or tsunamis. Visitors can also report if they have felt an earthquake themselves—an important complement to instrumental measurements.

Important seismic network with international significance

SNSN is the only permanent, earthquake-focused seismic network in Sweden and is responsible for detecting and recording earthquakes in the country. The network currently consists of 69 permanent stations, from Lund in the south to north of Torneträsk. In Sweden, an average of three earthquakes per day are recorded if we look at the average for the last 10 years, but looking ahead to 2022 and beyond, the average will be 3–4 earthquakes per day.

At the same time, it is often the major global earthquakes that attract the most interest, not least from authorities and the media, who need fast and reliable information in connection with major events.

Seismological measurements in Uppsala began in 1904 in Observatorieparken, and since 2007, SNSN has been a government commission based at the Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University. The network was digitized, automated, and greatly expanded between 2000 and 2010.

The Swedish Seismic Network collects and analyzes a large amount of data and has extensive international exchanges that form the basis for work to increase knowledge about earthquakes and how we can best protect ourselves against them. SNSN also has an important information role, and its services are aimed at government agencies, the media, the general public, and international partners. This improvement will make it easier to monitor, analyze, and understand earthquakes in real time, which will both strengthen research and increase public knowledge about seismic activity. We also hope that more people will discover that they can contribute by reporting their observations, says Björn Lund.