This session invites contributions that advance methodological developments and showcase applications of seismology to hydrosphere-related processes. Topics include, but are not limited to:
... Groundwater and aquifer characterization, including seismic imaging and monitoring of groundwater distribution, dynamics, depletion, anthropogenic impacts, and the localization of aquitards.
... Impacts of climate change on the water cycle observed seismically, including ocean wave climate, sea-level rise, ice melt, permafrost decline, droughts, and altered precipitation patterns.
... Water-related geohazards, such as landslides, floods, avalanches, and cascading events triggered by permafrost degradation or water infiltration.
... Water resources in the critical zone, including water storage, surface and root-zone soil moisture, and surface water
bodies (rivers, lakes, wetlands).
... Fundamental studies of wave propagation in water-bearing media, including theoretical, laboratory, and methodological developments.
The session aims to foster discussion on how seismic methods can provide new insights into the water cycle, improve hazard assessment, and support sustainable management of water resources under changing climate conditions.
Posters on site: Tue, 5 May, 16:15–18:00 | Hall X1
Located mainly on thick lacustrine sediment, pumping ground water has led to pronounced subsidence in Mexico City, with a rate of nearly 0.35m per year in the worst affected locations. The load of new infrastructure exacerbates the problem. Monitoring the subsidence is crucial for understanding the mechanism and hazard prevention. While InSAR and other methods have provided highly resolved subsidence maps, they lack depth resolution.
Seismic velocity, which reflects the state of the sediment (e.g. its stress, pore pressure, and other properties), will change with the compaction during the subsidence. Taking advantage of the omnipresent urban ambient noise recorded by the 30 broad band seismic stations in periods between 2010 and2021 around Mexico City, we calculate the cross correlations between different station pairs to determine the seismic velocity variations with coda wave interferometry in different frequency bands. We aim to obtain the spatial and depth distribution of seismic velocity variations using coda wave sensitivities and surface wave dispersion Previous studies have explained the long durations of ground-motion that has been observed during teleseismic and local earthquakes by higher-mode surface wave propagation in the competent rocks underneath the Mexico Basin, which has important implications for the depth sensitivity of any observed velocity changes.
To determine the precise relationship between the subsidence and seismic velocity variations, we will further analysis the tectonic and environment effects. Our study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the subsidence in Mexico City.
How to cite: Zong, J., Ermert, L., Wang, Q., Solano-Rojas, D., Sun, X., Shapiro, N., Cabral-Cano, E., Chaussard, E., Quintanar, L., and Garcia Martinez, L. E.: Monitoring subsidence in Mexico City with ambient noise, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-443, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-443, 2026.
The ML 5.8 Gyeongju earthquake occurred on 12 September 2016 at 20:32:54 (KST), with a focal depth of approximately 15 km, along the Naenam Fault near Gyeongju, southeastern Korea. This event represents the strongest instrumentally recorded earthquake in southeastern Korea and has raised significant concerns regarding seismic hazards and associated hydrological responses in the Korean Peninsula. In this study, we investigate coseismic groundwater-level responses associated with the Gyeongju earthquake using data from the Korean National Groundwater Monitoring Network (NGMN). A total of 24 monitoring wells located within a 50 km radius of the epicenter were analyzed to assess the detectability and spatial characteristics of groundwater-level changes induced by the earthquake.
Most wells did not exhibit obvious groundwater-level responses at the time of the earthquake. This limited detectability is primarily attributed to two factors: (1) the earthquake occurred between scheduled measurement times of the National Groundwater Monitoring Network, which records groundwater levels only at hourly intervals, thereby preventing the capture of rapid coseismic fluctuations; and (2) coincident rainfall events likely masked subtle earthquake-induced groundwater-level changes, making it difficult to reliably identify wells exhibiting true coseismic responses. Nevertheless, after applying a moving-average filter to remove short-term noise, subtle but systematic groundwater-level changes were identified at four monitoring wells. Among these, three wells showed groundwater-level rises, while one well exhibited a groundwater-level decline.
To explore the physical mechanisms underlying these observations, static coseismic crustal strain fields were simulated using the Okada-based earthquake strain model. The resulting volumetric strain at a depth of 100 m was calculated and spatially mapped, and the magnitude and sign of the inferred poroelastic pressure responses to these volumetric strains were quantitatively compared with the observed equivalent groundwater-level changes at the monitoring wells. The results reveal a clear correspondence between the sign of coseismic strain and observed groundwater-level changes. Wells located in contraction-dominated regions experienced groundwater-level rises, whereas the well located in an extension-dominated region exhibited groundwater-level decline. This spatial consistency contrasts sharply with a previous study based on Coulomb stress change analyses, which reported no systematic relationship between earthquake-induced stress changes and groundwater-level variations in Korea.
Our findings provide compelling evidence that coseismic groundwater-level changes in Korea can be physically linked to elastic strain induced by earthquakes, even within a monitoring network not originally designed for high-frequency seismic-hydrologic studies. These results highlight the importance of identifying sensitive wells and upgrading the selected stations with high-resolution pressure transducers and minute-scale sampling intervals. Such improvements would significantly enhance the capability of the national monitoring system to capture earthquake–groundwater interactions and provide valuable data for assessing seismic hazards in southeastern Korea experiencing increasing seismic activity with events of MW ≥ 5.0.
How to cite: Lee, E. and Yeo, I. W.: Assessing Coseismic Groundwater-Level Responses to the 2016 ML 5.8 Gyeongju Earthquake: Implications for National Groundwater Monitoring Networks, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6134, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6134, 2026.
Climate change and increasing water demand highlight the need for robust, spatially resolved monitoring of groundwater systems during pumping operations. Here we use ambient seismic noise for monitoring seismic velocity changes during a series of controlled groundwater pumping tests near Nickelsdorf, Burgenland (Austria; Kramer et al. 2026). Seismic noise was continuously recorded for about three months, covering periods before, during, and after pumping. We exploit train-dominated signals recorded during the experiment to reconstruct noise cross-correlations and estimate relative velocity changes (dv/v) from ballistic waves in multiple frequency bands. The dv/v time series show percent-level variations that closely follow the timing of the pumping and recovery phases and correlate with water-level fluctuations observed in the wells. To characterize the spatial structure of these changes, we invert dv/v along the profile. The inversion reveals both a smooth background trend along the profile and pronounced local anomalies near the pumping wells. We also introduce a hydromechanical dv/v–water-level coupling model that separates a slowly varying background response from well-specific local contributions and links near-surface seismic velocity changes to the underlying hydrological processes.
Kramer et al. (2026). Monitoring Groundwater Pumping Using Time-Lapse Tomography from Ambient Seismic Noise. Submitted to Water Resources Research.
How to cite: Kramer, R., Bai, H., Feng, X., Estève, C., Lu, Y., and Bokelmann, G.: Hydromechanical control of near-surface seismic velocity changes revealed by ambient seismic noise monitoring during groundwater pumping, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9944, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9944, 2026.
We explore the application of passive seismic interferometry across multiple spatial and temporal scales to investigate hydro-mechanical processes in mountainous terrain. At the larger scale, we analyze continuous seismic data from multiple stations in the Swiss Seismological Network spanning over two decades to investigate long-term trends and seasonal patterns in seismic velocity across the Swiss Alps. Our results reveal clear seasonal cycles for all investigated stations, likely due to environmental influences, such as temperature and precipitation, as well as coupled mechanisms that potentially influence subsurface water systems. These observations are part of an ongoing effort to establish an understanding of mass-balance changes driven by glacier retreat and altered precipitation patterns, which are directly affecting slope stability and groundwater recharge dynamics in a rapidly changing Alpine environment.
Complementing the insights of this large-scale study across Switzerland, we present a detailed case study from the Åknes rockslide in Western Norway, to highlight the potential of passive seismic interferometry (Bogner et al. 2026) to monitor rapid groundwater level rises and pore pressure induced reductions in rock mass stiffness. We show that a significant decrease in seismic velocity in 2024 correlates with accelerated displacement in the landslide shear zone, demonstrating the method’s sensitivity to both reversible environmental effects and irreversible structural changes.
Together, the studies are showing the versatility of passive seismic monitoring for hydro-mechanical processes from smaller scale site-specific hazard assessment to large-scale regional characterization of climate driven subsurface changes in the Alpes.
Bogner, L., Bruland, C., Hadziioannou, C., Obermann, A. and Langet, N. (2026). Seismic noise interferometry to disentangle environmental effects from irreversible subsurface changes at the Åknes rockslide in Western Norway. Submitted to Seismological Research Letters. Under review.
How to cite: Bogner, L., Kramer, R., Bruland, C., Hadziioannou, C., Langet, N., and Obermann, A.: Passive seismic interferometry and the influence of environmental forcings across scales , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12501, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12501, 2026.
Tailings dams are critical infrastructures whose failure can cause severe human, economic, and environmental damage. However, their internal state is typically monitored using sparse point measurements, resulting in limited spatial resolution. In this study, we investigate the internal structure and temporal dynamics of a tailings dam at the Pyhäsalmi mine (Finland) using passive seismic HVSR methods. The dataset was acquired within the Horizon Europe Mine.io project over approximately one month using 470 three-component nodal sensors deployed from the crest to the toe of the dam. Our results reveal a clear dominant resonance frequency, which we interpret as being controlled by the water table within the dam. Time-lapse analysis shows systematic temporal variations primarily correlated with weather events, while spatial patterns reveal non-negligible lateral heterogeneity in the internal structure. These findings show that passive seismic methods based on resonance frequency measurements provide a robust, non-invasive, and spatially resolved way to image and monitor tailings dams, complementing conventional measurements and supporting geohazard assessment in the mining context.
How to cite: Courbis, R., Lu, Y., and Mollehuara Canales, R.: Passive seismic resonance monitoring of a tailings dam at the Pyhäsalmi mine, Finland, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13994, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13994, 2026.
The Séchilienne landslide in the French Alps is a large, deep-seated landslide whose dynamics are strongly influenced by local hydro-geological conditions. The highly fractured moving zone has a higher hydraulic conductivity than the underlying stable bedrock, creating a perched aquifer. Below, the bedrock hosts a deep saturated zone. Between 2011 and 2016, the landslide underwent an active phase marked by an initial increase and a subsequent decrease of displacement rates. Since then, the landslide has remained largely stable. The site has been instrumented with a seismic network since 2012 [1], providing a unique opportunity to link relative seismic velocity changes to hydro-geological observations and landslide deformation. We use ambient seismic noise interferometry to compute depth-dependent relative seismic velocity changes (dV/V), reflecting variations in the elastic properties of the landslide.
We observe clear seasonal cycles in seismic velocities within the shallow, fractured part of the landslide. Velocities decrease during periods of elevated groundwater levels and increase during dry conditions, indicating a reversible response to water-table fluctuations in the perched aquifer. Superimposed on this seasonal behavior, dV/V shows a long-term trend during the active phase of the landslide. At shallow depths, dV/V decreases during periods of increasing displacement rates and increases as displacement rates decrease. At greater depths in the deep aquifer, dV/V decreases during the deceleration phase. During the stable period, dV/V shows almost no long-term trend. This behavior indicates sensitivity of dV/V to landslide kinematics and a possible coupling between the shallow and deep aquifers.
The results show that seismic interferometry captures both short-term hydrologically driven variations and longer-term changes connected to landslide kinematics, showing distinct responses at different depths. The approach provides valuable insight into hydromechanical processes governing landslide evolution and highlights the potential of continuous seismic monitoring for slope stability assessment.
[1] Seismic data have been acquired by the French National Landslide Observatory (OMIV), and are available at doi.org/10.15778/RESIF.FR and doi.org/10.15778/RESIF.MT
We acknowledge help from the ISTerre-SIG team for operating the seismic network. We acknowledge the support of the European Research Council (ERC) under the grant agreement no. 101142154 (Crack The Rock).
How to cite: Wienk, I., Guillemot, A., Béjean-Maillard, O., Radiguet, M., and Larose, E.: Seismic Velocity Variations as Indicators of Hydromechanical Processes in the Séchilienne Landslide (France), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14765, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14765, 2026.
We present initial results from a three-month-long geophysical monitoring campaign in an agricultural setting in Cumbria, NW England, aimed at assessing subsurface moisture response to the re-establishment of river flow.
Over the last five years the study area experienced persistent flooding and associated soil degradation, caused by a blocked outflow channel of the River Winster where it flows into Morecambe Bay. In September 2025, the river channel was cleared with the aim of re-establishing flow and reducing future flood events. To assess the impact of this intervention in the subsurface, seismic and electrical geophysical monitoring across four agricultural fields was carried out, spanning two weeks prior to 2.5 months post re-establishment of river flow.
This known hydrological change to the system provided a unique opportunity to explore the effectiveness of high-frequency ambient noise seismic interferometry at measuring changes in soil moisture content. A total of 180 seismic nodes were deployed in densely spaced (5 - 20 m) grids, across four fields with variable soil type and at varying distance along the river course. The project aimed to explore: 1) optimal network configurations, 2) consistency of a previously observed 50 Hz noise source thought to be generated by the national electrical grid, and 3) the effectiveness of the technique in various soil types.
Seismic results are compared to time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles repeated at monthly intervals, and bench-marked against continuous soil temperature data, water-table loggers, precipitation, river-level and tidal data, and point measurements of soil moisture content.
How to cite: Jenkins, J., Maceiro, J., Uhlemann, S., Hirst, C., Davidson, K., Lythgoe, K., and Hammond, J.: Geophysical monitoring of soil moisture response to re-establishing river flow in an Agricultural setting, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14801, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14801, 2026.
Recent advances in hydro-seismology demonstrate that seismic velocity variations provide a sensitive probe of near-surface hydrological processes. Building on earlier physics-based formulations for stress-induced seismic velocity changes, we present a reasonable approximation that recasts these relationships in terms of the ratio μ′/μ, where μ is the shear modulus and μ′ its pressure derivative. This formulation highlights that explicit knowledge of μ′ is not required to obtain physically meaningful predictions of stress-driven seismic velocity variations. Instead, by combining basic geomechanical assumptions with plausible subsurface models for vp, vs, and density, μ′/μ can be approximated sufficiently well to enable robust forward modelling.
We show that this approximation unifies previous empirical observations of groundwater-related velocity changes by linking pore-pressure perturbations directly to effective-stress variations and their impact on elastic moduli. The updated framework allows hydro-seismological analyses to be performed in settings where detailed rock-physics constraints are unavailable, broadening its applicability from well-instrumented regions to sparse networks and shallow environmental studies.
This physics-based approach strengthens the foundation for using ambient noise monitoring, coda-wave interferometry, and surface-wave dispersion to track groundwater dynamics and (effective) stress transients. By reducing the dependency on poorly constrained elastic derivatives, the method supports more transferable hydro-seismological monitoring strategies and provides a pathway for integrating seismic observations with hydrological models.
How to cite: Fokker, E., Ruigrok, E., and Trampert, J.: Stress-velocity relationship for hydro-seismological monitoring, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16901, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16901, 2026.
Attenuation of seismic waves describes the loss of energy as waves travel through the medium. It is among others sensitive to fluids, making it a potentially important complementary observation in ambient noise monitoring. While seismic attenuation imaging with ambient noise yields convincing results at regional scale, time-dependent measurements of attenuation at this scale remain challenging. One of the challenges is the variability of ocean microseism sources, that leads to a variability of noise energy and measured seismic velocity in short-duration observations.
In this contribution, we investigate changes in surface wave attenuation from ambient seismic noise recorded at the Swiss Digital Seismic Network. We observe seasonal variations in Rayleigh wave attenuation, with local averages matching previous time-independent studies. Following this finding, we pursue two goals: a) ensuring the robustness of the time-varying attenuation signal, and b) seeking an interpretation.
In the Alpine region, energy from the secondary microseism drops noticeably during summer. Together with the geographical change in source distribution, this leads to seasonal variations in phase velocity estimates, which we account for when measuring attenuation; however, it may also lead to apparent changes in attenuation itself provided that source changes are not affecting the seismic stations uniformly. Using numerical modeling and an extended attenuation measurement, we test whether source distribution changes alone can account for the observed behavior.
The observations show stronger attenuation in summer, than in winter. Given the relatively low frequency band targeted here, a shallow origin of the variations, such as ground temperature or soil moisture variations, does not seem plausible. If robustness can be confirmed, we will investigate the hypothesis of crustal attenuation changes due to seasonal loading by precipitation.
How to cite: Ermert, L., Boschi, L., and Obermann, A.: Seasonal variations in crustal surface wave attenuation, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17378, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17378, 2026.
Monitoring groundwater levels and soil moisture content (SMC) is essential yet challenging, especially across large areas due to the logistics of intense surveying and repeatability. Advances in hydroseismology and near surface geophysics offer new possibilities for resolving subsurface dynamics at useful scales in space and time. Seismic velocity variations, sensitive to pore pressure and saturation, enable passive or repeat monitoring of groundwater changes accross large acreages and with sufficient spatial resolution. Electromagnetic induction (EMI) provides rapid, high-resolution mapping of shallow electrical conductivity, serving as a strong proxy for SMC. Combining seismic and EMI data leverages the wide spatial coverage of seismic methods with the detailed, near surface sensitivity and calibration of EMI. This integrated approach improves our ability to track hydrological processes, supporting better groundwater management and drought assessment in regions such as the Netherlands.
How to cite: Carpentier, S., Fokker, E., and Brett, H.: Integrating hydro-seismology and electromagnetic methods for enhanced groundwater monitoring , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17586, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17586, 2026.
The ambient seismic field comprises waves generated by a wide range of tectonic, environmental, and anthropogenic processes, and they also encode information about the subsurface medium through which the waves propagate. Over the past two decades, ambient-field-based techniques have emerged as a powerful approach for monitoring temporal changes in the Earth’s subsurface properties. These methods exploit the statistical characteristics of continuous seismic records to detect subtle perturbations in the medium without relying on earthquake sources.
Recently, Steinmann et al. (2022) proposed an alternative approach for monitoring the freezing of near-surface material. This approach is based on a statistical blind source separation and an unsupervised machine learning framework applied to continuous seismic data. We apply this method to groundwater monitoring in California using single-station seismic recording. The approach aims to disentangle overlapping seismic signatures from different sources and physical processes to isolate components related to hydrological variations. We will evaluate the performance and robustness of this method and discuss its potential for improved monitoring of groundwater-driven changes in subsurface seismic properties.
How to cite: Esfahani, R., Seydoux, L., Mao, S., and Campillo, M.: Ambient Field Analysis Using Unsupervised Machine Learning and Blind Source Separation for Groundwater Monitoring in California, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17617, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17617, 2026.
A significant proportion of the world’s water resources is stored in karst regions. To develop water management strategies adapted to karst hydrosystems under conditions of global change, it is essential to consider the specific characteristics of these systems, from infiltration zones to discharge points. This requires an improved understanding of groundwater recharge, water storage within the karst reservoir, and the transfer of water toward outlets. However, the strong structural heterogeneity of karst systems poses significant challenges for imaging and monitoring groundwater flow processes. Among the well-established hydrological and geophysical methods used to study subsurface water dynamics, our project focuses on integrating innovative seismic monitoring techniques with interdisciplinary approaches within a multi-scale framework.
To address these challenges, our study investigates hydrological flows along preferential pathways within a karst environment that recharge the Lez aquifer, a critical groundwater resource supplying drinking water to approximately 340,000 inhabitants in Montpellier and its surrounding areas.
As part of the multidisciplinary PEPR OneWater K3 project, we conducted ambient seismic noise monitoring using a dense array of 100 velocimeters deployed over one month across a 200 m × 1 km area encompassing fault zones and highly localized karst features. These continuous data are used both for imaging, via seismic tomography, and for monitoring purposes. For the latter, the primary objective is to produce dynamic maps of seismic velocity variations derived from autocorrelations and cross-correlations between stations. These localized variations are then correlated with a significant rainfall event and hydrological observations. We specifically aim to derive the hydrological properties controlling a synthetic model capable of reproducing seismic velocity responses to temperature and rainfall variations, with a spatial resolution that highlights distinct geological compartments. In a second step, the seismic network is used to detect seismic noise generated by fluid transfers, particularly within the most permeable zones.
Furthermore, the deployment of broadband seismic stations over a two-year period is expected to provide valuable insights into the long-term dynamics and seasonal variability of the Lez aquifer at a larger scale.
How to cite: Herbelot, M., Garambois, S., Stehly, L., Voisin, C., Boura, A., and Léonardi, V.: Contribution of Dense Seismic Arrays to the Characterization of Hydrological Dynamics in Karst Systems, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18794, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18794, 2026.
This study investigates the feasibility of using train-induced seismic interferometry to monitor shallow subsurface pore-water pressure (PWP) variations of shallow soft soil conditions alongside railways embankments. The research was conducted at a dedicated test site equipped with an array of pore-water pressure transducers and a pair of tri-axial accelerometers, enabling simultaneous monitoring. The triaxial accelerometers and pore-water pressure transducers were installed at two locations, close to each other, along the railways to capture the effects of passing trains on the shallow subsurface. The accelerometers, placed at a depth of 3.6 meters, were used to monitor ground vibrations, specifically the propagation of Rayleigh waves in the 1–30 Hz frequency range. The pore-water pressure transducers were positioned at multiple depths between 2 and 7 meters, with approximately 1-meter intervals between them. These transducers recorded pore-water pressure (PWP) values every hour at each specific depth.
The methodology employs seismic interferometry to extract surface waves from ambient vibrations induced by passing trains. These velocity variations are then correlated with modeled PWP changes at different depths. The results demonstrate promising correlations between measured and modeled PWP, particularly at sensitive depths where soil behavior is most critical for infrastructure stability. While the approach successfully captures general trends in PWP dynamics, discrepancies in prediction accuracy were observed, primarily due to limitations in model parameterization, frequency band selection, and data resolution.
The findings highlight the potential of seismic interferometry as a non-invasive, scalable technique for geotechnical monitoring. However, improvements in several areas are recommended to enhance reliability. Refining model parameters to better represent site-specific soil properties, optimizing frequency selection to target depth-sensitive wave modes, and increasing temporal and spatial resolution of seismic data could significantly improve predictive performance.
Furthermore, integrating Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology offers an opportunity for real-time, large-scale monitoring by utilizing existing fiber-optic infrastructure. This integration could transform current practices by enabling continuous observation of soil-water interactions without the need for extensive sensor deployment.
This research demonstrates the viability of using train-induced seismic signals for monitoring subsurface hydromechanical processes, offering a practical alternative to conventional methods. By addressing current limitations and incorporating emerging technologies, the proposed framework has the potential to advance infrastructure monitoring, mitigate geotechnical risks, and support sustainable development in areas with challenging soil conditions.
How to cite: Obando Hernandez, E., Fokker, E., Trampert, J., and Buskes, B.: Train-induced seismic interferometry for monitoring pore-water pressure changes along railway embankments, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18994, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18994, 2026.
Climate change has led to more frequent and widespread droughts motivating robust monitoring of groundwater resources. Ambient seismic noise interferometry allows to derive relative seismic velocity changes (Δv/v) over time and space in the subsurface. Δv/v correlates well with groundwater fluctuations. Traditional datasets used to monitor groundwater changes, such as groundwater level data from wells and GRACE satellite gravimetric data, are either spatially sparse or limited in spatial resolution. Seismic velocity changes offer an additional, high-resolution measure of groundwater changes. Here, we aim to enhance groundwater monitoring in central Scandinavia, which experienced severe droughts in 2018 and 2022, and increase understanding on how groundwater levels decrease during droughts and recharge during periods of higher precipitations. One challenge of the ambient seismic noise interferometry method is the assumption of uniform noise sources, which rarely applies to seismic stations in Norway and Sweden. In this study, we test several denoising and spatial inversion robustness methods, including denoising autoencoders, convolutional neural networks, and variational inference. Through the integration of seismic and hydrological data, complex signal enhancement, and probabilistic inversion, we develop a robust method for monitoring groundwater in areas with heterogeneous station spacing and non-uniform noise sources.
How to cite: Loviknes, K., Aiken, J. M., Mao, S., Nair, A., Tallaksen, L. M., Lund, B., and Renard, F.: Monitoring Seismic Noise for Groundwater Dynamics Using Machine Learning , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19372, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19372, 2026.
We present preliminary observations from a passive seismic monitoring programme developed within the framework of the CANALAB project, applied to fluvial systems in northern Spain. The study is based on continuous recordings in the lower Nalón River since March 2022 and, since 2025, in a headwater catchment of the Nalón basin (Aller River). Seismic stations installed close to the active channel are used to explore how ground vibrations respond to changes in river dynamics. One year of data from the Nalón site was analysed using a General Additive Model (GAM) that integrates seismic amplitude with river discharge, wind speed and a day–night component related to anthropogenic noise.
Preliminary GAM outputs indicate that river discharge explains about 92% of the variability of the seismic signal, while wind and the systemic day–night component together account for less than 2%. During the flood events of March and April 2022 and January 2023, seismic energy increased markedly between 5 and 40 Hz, which is in agreement with peak discharges and with surrogate indicators of sediment transport derived from impact plates installed on the riverbed. When only low-flow periods without detected bedload transport are considered, seismic amplitude follows an almost linear relationship with discharge, whereas during floods an excess signal appears relative to the GAM prediction, which is interpreted as being potentially related to coarse bedload transport. The new installation in 2025 in the Aller headwaters extends this framework to upstream conditions and will allow comparison between lowland and headwater responses. These observations support the potential of passive seismology as a non-invasive and continuous tool to monitor both liquid discharge and sediment dynamics, complementing conventional methods.
How to cite: Fernandez-Iglesias, M. E., Incera, L., González-Rodríguez, G., Vázquez-Tarrío, D., Fernández-García, M., Menéndez-Duarte, R., Pulgar, J. Á., González-Cortina, J., Pedreira, D., and Díaz-González, A.: Exploring river dynamics through passive seismology: preliminary insights into flow and sediment transport in northern Spain, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-22344, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-22344, 2026.
