Retrieving seismic source characteristics using seismic and infrasound data: the 2020 mb 4.9 Kiruna minequake, Sweden

A minequake of magnitude m 4.9 occurred on 18 May 2020 early in the morning at the LKAB underground iron ore mine in Kiruna, Sweden. This is the largest mining-induced earthquake in Scandinavia. It generated acoustic signals observed at three infrasound arrays at 9.3 (KRIS, Sweden), 155 (IS37, Norwa...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Turquet, Antoine, Brissaud, Quentin, Alvizuri, Celso, Näsholm, Sven Peter, Kero, Johan, LePichon, Alexis
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:unknown
Published: Authorea, Inc. 2024
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/essoar.169444402.26377670/v2
Description
Summary:A minequake of magnitude m 4.9 occurred on 18 May 2020 early in the morning at the LKAB underground iron ore mine in Kiruna, Sweden. This is the largest mining-induced earthquake in Scandinavia. It generated acoustic signals observed at three infrasound arrays at 9.3 (KRIS, Sweden), 155 (IS37, Norway), and 286 km (ARCI, Norway) distance. We perform full-waveform focal mechanism inversion based on regional seismic data and local infrasound data. These independently highlight that this event was dominated by a shallow-depth collapse in agreement with in-mine seismic station data. However, regional infrasound data cannot inform the inversion process without an accurate model of atmospheric winds and temperatures. Yet, our numerical simulations demonstrate a potential of using local and regional infrasound data to constrain an event’s focal mechanism and depth.