Articles | Volume 9, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-9-223-2026
© 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/gc-9-223-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
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21 May 2026
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 21 May 2026
| 21 May 2026
Increasing earthquake awareness: seismo-at-school Switzerland
Maren Böse
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Swiss Seismological Service (SED), ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
Nadja Valenzuela
Swiss Seismological Service (SED), ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
György Hetényi
Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
Romain Roduit
HES-SO Valais-Wallis, School of engineering, Sion, 1950, Switzerland
Irina Dallo
Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP), Bern, 3003, Switzerland
Kerstin Bircher
focusTerra, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
John Clinton
Swiss Seismological Service (SED), ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
Urs Fässler
Swiss Seismological Service (SED), ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
Florian Haslinger
Swiss Seismological Service (SED), ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
Tanja Jaeger
EducETH Kompetenzzentrum für Lehren und Lernen, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
Michèle Marti
Swiss Seismological Service (SED), ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
Roman Racine
Swiss Seismological Service (SED), ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
Anne Sauron
HES-SO Valais-Wallis, School of engineering, Sion, 1950, Switzerland
Shiba Subedi
Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Lalitpur, Nepal
Stefan Wiemer
Swiss Seismological Service (SED), ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
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Seismic hazard and risk are time dependent as seismicity is clustered and exposure can change rapidly. We are developing an interdisciplinary dynamic earthquake risk framework for advancing earthquake risk mitigation in Switzerland. This includes various earthquake risk products and services, such as operational earthquake forecasting and early warning. Standardisation and harmonisation into seamless solutions that access the same databases, workflows, and software are a crucial component.
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Questions on issues such as anthropogenic earthquakes and deep geothermal energy developments require a better understanding of the fractured rock. Experiments conducted at reduced scales but with higher-resolution observations can shed some light. To this end, the BedrettoLab was recently established in an existing tunnel in Ticino, Switzerland, with preliminary efforts to characterize realistic rock mass behavior at the hectometer scale.
Jaroslava Plomerová, Helena Žlebčíková, György Hetényi, Luděk Vecsey, Vladislav Babuška, and AlpArray-EASI and AlpArray working
groups
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We present high-resolution tomography images of upper mantle structure beneath the E Alps and the adjacent Bohemian Massif. The northward-dipping lithosphere, imaged down to ∼200 km beneath the E Alps without signs of delamination, is probably formed by a mixture of a fragment of detached European plate and the Adriatic plate subductions. A detached high-velocity anomaly, sub-parallel to and distinct from the E Alps heterogeneity, is imaged at ∼100–200 km beneath the southern part of the BM.
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Editorial statement
This manuscript, and the excellent teaching resources and classroom materials within, effectively raises awareness of earthquake risk and should be disseminated to a wider audience. The hands-on, engaging DIY seismometer kit could also be commercially viable thereby allowing the initiative to reach its full potential.
This manuscript, and the excellent teaching resources and classroom materials within,...
Short summary
Although Switzerland faces moderate seismic hazard, earthquakes represent the natural risk with the greatest impact potential. As most residents have never experienced a damaging earthquake, education is critical for raising awareness and enhancing preparedness. In a recent project, we expanded the seismo@school program in Switzerland by developing new teaching materials in four languages, related classroom activities, and by installing Raspberry Shake seismometers in schools across the country.
Although Switzerland faces moderate seismic hazard, earthquakes represent the natural risk with...
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