The SWATH-D Seismological Network in the Eastern Alps

The SWATH-D experiment involved the deployment of a dense temporary broadbandseismic network in the Eastern Alps. Its primary purpose was enhanced seismic imagingof the crust and crust–mantle transition, as well as improved constraints on local eventlocations and focal mechanisms in a complex part of the Alpine orogen. The studyregion is a key area of the Alps, where European crust in the north is juxtaposed andpartially interwoven with Adriatic crust in the south, and a significant jump in theMoho depth was observed by the 2002 TRANSALP north–south profile. Here, a flipin subduction polarity has been suggested to occur. This dense network encompasses163 stations and complements the larger-scale sparser AlpArray seismic network. Thenominal station spacing in SWATH-D is 15 km in a high alpine, yet densely populatedand industrialized region. We present here the challenges resulting from operating alarge broadband network under these conditions and summarize how we addressedthem, including the way we planned, deployed, maintained, and operated the stationsin the field. Finally, we present some recommendations based on our experiences.