Articles | Volume 15, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-15-195-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-15-195-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Causal and uncertainty-aware digital-twin framework for ultra–low-noise geoscientific inertial sensors
Antonino D'Alessandro
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Nazionale, Rome, Italy
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Large earthquakes are often followed by many smaller shocks, but the number of these events varies widely. We analyzed nearly fifty years of global earthquake records to understand why. We found that the size of the main earthquake is the strongest factor controlling how many aftershocks occur. Earthquakes along subduction zones tend to produce more aftershocks than those within continents. Depth and distance from plate boundaries have weaker effects.
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Historical earthquake records extend knowledge of past earthquakes but are uneven and incomplete. This study compares historical and early modern earthquake locations worldwide to test how well historical data reflect real earthquake patterns. We show that historical records capture large-scale tectonic features but miss details at smaller scales. This means historical earthquakes are useful for broad hazard studies, but not for detailed local assessments.
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Santa Barbara and Aragona are affected by mud volcanism with episodic hazardous paroxysm events. Two potentially hazardous paroxysm exposed surfaces of 0.12 and 0.20 km2 were elaborated with DSMs and with historical information on the paroxysms that occurred in the past. This paper, in the end, could be a useful tool for civil protection authorities in order to take appropriate risk mitigation measurements for exposed people and for monitoring activities.
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Short summary
Instruments that measure extremely small ground motions are vital for monitoring earthquakes, volcanoes, and slow Earth deformation. This study presents a virtual modelling approach that predicts sensor performance before construction. By accounting for physical limits, electronic effects, and uncertainty, the method clarifies what truly limits sensitivity and how designs can be improved, supporting the development of more accurate and robust tools for Earth science.
Instruments that measure extremely small ground motions are vital for monitoring earthquakes,...