Swiss researchers trigger thousands of tiny quakes to unlock secrets of seismic risk

Zurich: Researchers in southern Switzerland have deliberately made the ground shake, triggering thousands of tiny earthquakes in a controlled underground setting to uncover insights that could reduce seismic risks.

The experiment took place deep below the Swiss Alps, where scientists injected fluid into rock to study how small tremors form and spread. The setup allowed them to monitor each micro-quake in real time, mapping stress changes inside the rock.

“It was a success!” said Domenico Giardini, one of the lead researchers on the project, as he inspected a crack in the rock wall lining a narrow tunnel far below the surface.

The goal is to better understand induced seismicity — small earthquakes triggered by human activity like geothermal energy, carbon storage, or reservoir management. By studying thousands of controlled events, researchers hope to improve models that predict when and how larger, damaging quakes might occur.

The project is part of broader efforts across Europe to make underground energy projects safer. Data from the Swiss experiment will be shared with labs working on geothermal and subsurface risk mitigation.