Earthquake monitoring in the Maltese islands will now be improved through the extension of the recording facilities to a network of three permanent broadband seismic stations.

The original seismic station at Wied Dalam, Birżebbugia, remains the ‘reference’ station, and has been augmented by an extra accelerometer.

A new broadband station has been installed at the University, Tal-Qroqq, and a third station is being installed at a site in Xlendi. A fourth, portable broadband station will be installed for periods of a few months in different locations, mainly to study of site effects. All stations will transmit data in real time over an internet connection to the University centre and international data centres.

The network will provide better coverage and more accurate location of seismicity close to the Maltese islands. It has been registered with the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN) with the code ML.

The purchase of the instruments was supported by the European Regional Development Fund.