The structure of the subsoil and the low seismic 'noise' of the environment make the Sos Enattos site in Sardinia particularly suitable for hosting the future European Einstein Telescope gravitational wave observatory : this is confirmed by new studies published in the journal Seismica by a team of researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Sassari and the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa.
Several data acquisition campaigns, conducted using three dense networks of temporary seismic sensors (arrays), have allowed us to quantify and characterize local seismic noise (both natural and anthropogenic), along with the subsurface structure. The work highlighted that the seismic noise level in the area is extremely low , with a virtually homogeneous distribution of noise sources for frequencies between 10 and 20 Hz, with velocities compatible with the presence of locally generated surface waves; conversely, below 10 Hz, the prevalence of body waves (P and S) generated by distant sources is clear. Finally, the inversions of the surface wave dispersion curves also suggest a homogeneous subsurface characterized by high propagation velocities.
(Unioneonline)
