Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal ESSD.
DETECT: seismological data from multiple dense arrays deployed across the Irpinia fault system in southern Italy
Francesco Scotto di Uccio,Angelo Strollo,Matteo Picozzi,Dino Bindi,Antonio Scala,Gaetano Festa,Tony Alfredo Stabile,Erwan Gueguen,Guido Maria Adinolfi,Claudio Martino,Ortensia Amoroso,Raffaella De Matteis,Vincenzo Convertito,Daniele Spallarossa,Alessandro Caruso,Francesco Carotenuto,Simona Colombelli,Grazia De Landro,Gregory De Martino,Luca Elia,Benjamin Heit,Laura Hillman,Antonio Giovanni Iaccarino,Mauro Palo,Karina Loviknes,Stefan Mroczek,Sahar Nazeri,Titouan Muzellec,Ferdinando Napolitano,Serena Panebianco,Raffaele Rea,Rosario Riccio,Guido Russo,Vincenzo Serlenga,Stefania Tarantino,Nicola Tragni,Thomas Zieke,Jannes Münchmeyer,Peter Makus,Alister Trabattoni,Aldo Zollo,and Fabrice Cotton
Abstract. We present a large seismological dataset (https://geofon.gfz.de/doi/network/ZK/2021) composed by continuous recordings from 200 temporary stations (seismic network ZK, 10.14470/MX7576871994), which operated continuously for approximately one year in the Southern Apennines (Southern Italy) as part of the DETECT experiment. The dataset is compliant with the seismological standards for the archiving of data and metadata, and with standardized tools for disseminating them, e.g., the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN) web services. The data set was collected during the DETECT experiment in the Irpinia area (southern Italy), which is one of the regions with the highest seismic hazard in Italy. From August 2021 to August 2022, a constellation of 20 seismic arrays, with a total of 200 seismic stations, was installed above the fault segments responsible for the M 6.9, 1980 Irpinia earthquake, the strongest and most destructive seismic event in Italy in the last fifty years. Each seismic array had a maximum aperture of ~2 km and was composed of one broad-band sensor, one short- period sensor with 1 Hz and eight 4.5 Hz natural frequency geophones. Data and metadata were managed in accordance with the GIPP/GEOFON policy using SeisComP (Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and GEMPA GmbH, 2008) and the final archive size is approximately 5.2 TB. In this contribution, we provide details on how to download waveform data and station metadata, as well as information on data availability and quality.
Received: 09 Apr 2026 – Discussion started: 22 Jun 2026
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The manuscript presents a high-quality seismological dataset acquired within the DETECT experiment in the Irpinia fault system. The availability of dense seismic observations across an active fault zone provides a valuable resource for investigating earthquake source processes, microseismicity, fault-zone structure, machine learning applications, and high-resolution seismic monitoring. The dataset is particularly relevant given the tectonic complexity and significant seismic hazard of the Irpinia region, as highlighted by the occurrence of the 1980 Mw 6.9 earthquake. The efforts made by the authors to ensure that the dataset is FAIR-compliant and accessible through standard services are highly appreciated.
The paper is well written, clearly structured, and the topic is fully aligned with the aims and scope of the journal. Overall, the paper is suitable for publication after addressing a few minor points and providing some additional information:
- While the data availability is adequately described, the quality-control methodology would benefit from further details, especially regarding gap detection procedures, timing accuracy assessment, and the criteria used to identify and handle problematic stations or time periods.
- Furthermore, some of the provided links should be verified, as they are currently not accessible (e.g., the links reported in Table 1).
The DETECT experiment provides a novel dataset to showcase how dense seismic sensor networks can improve monitoring of complex fault systems. This survey aims to collect seismic waveforms near seismic sources to better image faults, understand their behavior between earthquakes, and track changes that may anticipate a larger event. The data collected during the survey offer potential for advancing methodologies in earthquake identification and source characterization.
The DETECT experiment provides a novel dataset to showcase how dense seismic sensor networks can...
The manuscript presents a high-quality seismological dataset acquired within the DETECT experiment in the Irpinia fault system. The availability of dense seismic observations across an active fault zone provides a valuable resource for investigating earthquake source processes, microseismicity, fault-zone structure, machine learning applications, and high-resolution seismic monitoring. The dataset is particularly relevant given the tectonic complexity and significant seismic hazard of the Irpinia region, as highlighted by the occurrence of the 1980 Mw 6.9 earthquake. The efforts made by the authors to ensure that the dataset is FAIR-compliant and accessible through standard services are highly appreciated.
The paper is well written, clearly structured, and the topic is fully aligned with the aims and scope of the journal. Overall, the paper is suitable for publication after addressing a few minor points and providing some additional information:
- While the data availability is adequately described, the quality-control methodology would benefit from further details, especially regarding gap detection procedures, timing accuracy assessment, and the criteria used to identify and handle problematic stations or time periods.
- Furthermore, some of the provided links should be verified, as they are currently not accessible (e.g., the links reported in Table 1).