The NIEP web site

The Seismological Department (Laboratory) belongs to the National Institute (RD) for Earth Physics [NI(RD)EP] of Romania, dedicated to research, it is active in many research fields.

The staff of Seismological Department consists on researchers from different disciplines (seismologists, geophysicists, physicists, and geologist).

The Department conducts vigorous research program and provides research guidance in various fields earthquake seismology, a significant part of the research carried out is initiated by observations, with more theoretical developments. Generally speaking, research result achievement is well documented in scientific contributions published by researchers. A complete list of publications, covering the years under review, is given in the bibliography.

Main topics of research elaborated by Seismological Department are related to:

Local, Regional And Global Earthquake Location and Analysis And Interpretation Of Seismic Data For Earthquake Location And Quantification (Hypocentral Determination, Magnitude Estimation, Cataloguing, Historical Events Etc) In Romania And Mediterranean Area And Their Correlation With Tectonics (Evidence For Plate Tectonics), Focal Mechanism Of Balkan Earthquakes (UNESCO/Ritsema,1974);
Seismicity (Seismicity Fluctuations, Parameterization Of Seismicity Patterns) Mentioned That Seismicity Branch Of Seismological Department, Has Been Working For Longer Than Forty Two Years (Atanasiu, 1961) On Seismicity And Macroseismic Investigation In Romania And Europe, In Particular, Participated In And Co-Coordinated National And International Projects (Seismicity Of Europe, 2 Volumes – Prague/Karnik, 1968,1971);
Historical Earthquakes In Romania;
Earthquakes Catalogue For The Territory Of Romania, Balkans And Europe (UNESCO/Shebalin Et Al.,1974; Kociaj, 1993, Atlas Of Isoseismal Maps For Balkan Earthquakes (UNESCO/ Sebalin, 1974),Atlas Of Seismological Maps For Central And Eastern Europe (KAPG/Karnik Et Al., 1980);
Seismotectonics Of Romania, Especially Referring To The Vrancea Region;
Macroseismic Fields Of Romanian Earthquakes And Models Of Seismic Intensity Attenuation;
Seismicity And Seismotectonics Of Mediterranean And Balkan Regions;
Seismic Zoning Of Romania’s Territory In Intensity Terms;
Distribution Of Maximum Observed Seismic Intensity In Europe (Map Of Maximum Observed Seismic Intensities In Europe (ESC/Radu,1983);
Strong Ground Motion And Attenuation Of Acceleration For Earthquakes Produced In Vrancea And Banat Regions;
Methodology Of Assessing Natural And Anthropogenic Seismic Hazard;
Seismic Hazard Assessment;
Complex Characterization Of Seismicity And Evaluation Of Seismic Hazard In NPP Sites On The Territory Of Romania (See Cernavoda NPP);
Codes And Standards (Macro zoning, Seismic Scale, Etc.) For Earthquake Protection;
Physics Of Natural Seismic Source And Theoretical Modeling Of Rupture Process;
Theoretical Models For The Process Of Underground Explosions. Contribution To The Problem Of The Separation Of Large Explosions From Earthquakes;
Analogical Electronical Models Of The Explosion Process In Rocks;
Digital Simulations Of The Explosion Process Generating Longitudinal And Transverse Waves;
Modeling Physics Of Artificial Seismic Source And Theoretical Modeling Of Rupture Process;
Interdisciplinary Approach Of Natural Source Physics (NSSP);
Physical Modeling Of Some Phenomena Associated With Earthquakes Occurrence (Such As: Seismic Triggering Effect Of Solar Activity; Earthquake Lights; Electromagnetic Emission Of Seismic Source Etc);
Application Of Macroscopic Quantum Theories To Modeling Natural Seismic Source Structure;
Structure Of Earth Crust And Upper Mantle On The Romanian Territory;
Field Investigations Of Microearthquakes And Earthquake Sequences;
Earthquake Prediction Oriented Seismology And Related Fields (Geophysical And Biological Precursor Phenomena Associated With Strong Romanian Earthquakes (Vrancea, Banat And Campulung Regions));
Forensic Seismology [Blasting Seismology Investigations, Vibration Monitoring, Detection And Recognition Of Underground (Nuclear) Explosions];
Seismic Effects Of Explosions On Buildings With Special Reference To The NPP And Historical Monuments;
Engineering Seismology (Geotechnical Investigations For Site Evaluation, Field Investigation Of Site Parameters For Nuclear Power Plants, Dams Etc.).

The list of main results is given in ANNEX (LIST OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS 1977-2002)

A great interest present the Reports elaborated during the UNESCO Project for Balkan region (Seismicity and reduction of seismic risk / 1970-1992).

The Seismological department development cooperation with, regional and international centre institute:

National Committee for the Nuclear Activity Control (CNCAN);
International seismological Centre (ISC);
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre;
National Observatory of Athens Greece;
Swiss Seismological Service, Zurich Switzerland;
University of Thessaloniki Greece;
Observatories and Research Facilities for European Seismology;
Institute of Geophysics, National Academy of Science of Ukraine;
National Centers of the Scientific Researchers in Constructions “Cercon from Republic of Moldova;
Institute of Geophysics and Geology from Republic of Moldova;
Geophysical Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences;
Central Laboratory on - Earthquake Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences;
Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine, Board of Population and Territories Protection of Ukraine;
Department of Emergency Situations of Republic of Moldova.

International Cooperation

During its activity, has been actively involved in many international programs, as world-wide interdisciplinary research programs, regional projects or national programs on seismic hazard and risk. In the framework of such projects, SEISMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT successfully cooperates with many scientific organizations around the world.

Nowadays, two important bilateral co-operating projects are in progress, deserving special focus: the long-term project ‘Strong Earthquakes: a Challenge for Geosciences and Civil Engineering’ with the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, implying extended interdisciplinary works focused on strong ground motion seismology and seismic hazard and risk due to Vrancea earthquakes, and ‘Seismic microzoning of Bucharest’ with the University of Trieste, Italy, aiming at estimating the ground motion acceleration for mitigating seismic risk in Bucharest metropolitan area.

Relevant international projects where NIEP has been currently participating are: NATO SfP 972266 - ‘Impact of Vrancea Earthquakes on the Security of Bucharest and other Adjacent Urban Areas’; UNESCO IGCP 414- ‘Realistic Modeling of Seismic Input for Mega cities and Large Urban Areas’; COPERNICUS – ‘Quantitative seismic zoning of the Circum-Pannonian region’ and ‘Assessment of Seismic Potential in European Large Earthquake Areas’; COST – ‘3D monitoring of active tectonic structures’ as well as bilateral co-operation programmers with: GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Germany - ‘Task Force Earthquakes’; University of Karlsruhe, Germany – ‘Strong Earthquakes: a Challenge for Geosciences and Civil Engineering’; University of Trieste, Italy - ‘Microzoning of Bucharest’; Institute of Geophysics, ETH, Zürich – ‘CALIXTO-Seismic Tomography in the Vrancea Region, Romania’.

For further information please contact :

Dr. Aurelian Pantea (see Staff page)

Head of Seismological Department