Monitoring the Earth: the Near-Future Developments in Seismology

Abstract

Seismology deals with the study of the activity of physical forces responsible for the origin of earthquakes and the seismic waves generated within the Earth. All structures located from the center of the Earth to its surface are the subject of study in this discipline. Seismology therefore pursues the understanding of the Earth’s internal structure and the physical processes that cause earthquakes, resorting to advanced instruments for observation and measurements. This paper presents an overview of important milestones in the seismological field, followed by revolutions in the instrumentation and observation of seismological events.