K. Michailos, PhD

Hi there! My name is Konstantinos, and I am an observational seismologist at the Australian National University. I study earthquakes and the forces that shape the Earth’s crust. My work involves:

Analyzing "wiggles" (seismic waves produced by earthquakes),
Building detailed earthquake catalogs to track seismic activity over time,
Using imaging techniques—like taking an X-ray of the Earth—to reveal hidden underground structures.

By combining earthquake data with insights from different scientific fields, I aim to improve our understanding of how these processes shape our planet. I’m also passionate about open-access science and collaborative projects across disciplines.

Research projects

Epicenters of earthquakes located using a low-cost seismic network in Nepal.

Earthquake Monitoring with a Low-Cost Seismic Networks in Nepal

We investigate the performance of low-cost seismic networks for earthquake monitoring in Nepal (Subedi et al. 2024).

One year of seismic data from an educational network,
273 earthquakes detected, including events missing from national catalogs,
Microseismic detection capability down to magnitudes of ~0.8.

This work supports broader efforts to build earthquake resilience in Nepal, as highlighted in a France 24 article revisiting the devastating effects of the 2015 M7.8 Gorkha earthquake.

Moho Depths and Receiver Functions

We map the Moho discontinuity (Earth’s crust-mantle boundary) beneath the European Alps (Michailos et al. 2023).

Teleseismic receiver function analysis of distant earthquakes,
Data from the AlpArray Seismic Network and other large scale passive experiments,
All datasets, codes and results from this study are open-access.

View rfmpy on GitHub

Moho depth map of the European Alps region.

Intermediate-depth earthquakes beneath central Himalayas.

Intermediate-Depth Earthquakes Beneath the Himalayas

We examine the intermediate-depth seismicity, taking place beneath the central part of the Himalayan orogen (Michailos et al. 2021).

Machine-learning based detection methods for earthquake analysis,
Regional seismic data from the Himalayan region,
Seismogenic insights from clustered events: eclogitization reactions and/or westward-propagating dextral deformation.

View scripts on GitHub

Crustal thermal structure and exhumation in the central Southern Alps

We model crustal dynamics in New Zealand's Southern Alps (Michailos et al. 2020b).

Integrated analysis combining seismicity and thermochronology to model crustal thermal structure,
Spatially variable exhumation rates (1–8 mm/yr) along the Alpine Fault, aligning with geological/geodetic studies,
Elevated seismicity cutoff temperatures (410–430°C) suggesting fluid pressure/strain rate effects,

View scripts on GitHub

Earthquake distribution with thermal isotherms and exhumation rates.

Focal mechanisms near the central Alpine Fault.

Microseismicity and tectonic stress near the central Alpine Fault

We compile a catalog of 7,719 earthquakes near the central Alpine Fault using data from five seismic networks and GeoNet stations (Michailos et al. 2019).

Shallow seismogenic cutoffs (<8 km) near Aoraki/Mount Cook,
A seismic gap in Whataroa potentially linked to hydrothermal activity.

Next, we analyze 845 focal mechanisms (spanning ~10 years) to determine stress near the Alpine Fault (Michailos et al. 2020a).

Dominant strike-slip faulting with uniform stress orientations (mean 121° ±11°),
Remarkably consistent stress orientations over time.

Publications

Also on Google Scholar.

Peer-reviewed publications

Local earthquake monitoring with a low-cost seismic network: a case study in Nepal.
S. Subedi, G. Hetényi, F. Massin, L. B. Adhikari, K. Michailos.
Earth, Planets and Space, 2024.
Report on an open dataset to constrain the Balmuccia peridotite body (Ivrea-Verbano Zone, Italy).
G. Hetényi, L. Baron, M. Scarponi, S. Subedi, K. Michailos, F. Dal, A. Gerle, B. Petri, J. Zwahlen, A. Langone, A. Greenwood, ...
Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 2024.
Moho depths beneath the European Alps: a homogeneously processed map and receiver functions database.
K. Michailos, G. Hetényi, M. Scarponi, J. Stipčević, I. Bianchi, L. Bonatto, W. Czuba, ...
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., 2023.
A decade of earthquake activity at Taupō Volcano, New Zealand.
F. Illsley-Kemp, P. Herath, C.J. Chamberlain, K. Michailos, and C.J.N. Wilson
Volcanica, 2022.
Heterogeneity in Microseismicity and Stress near Rupture-Limiting Section Boundaries along the Late-Interseismic Alpine Fault.
E. Warren-Smith, J. Townend, C.J. Chamberlain, C. Boulton and K. Michailos
Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 2022.
Spatio-temporal evolution of intermediate-depth seismicity beneath the Himalayas: implications for metamorphism and tectonics.
K. Michailos, N.S. Carpenter, and G. Hetényi
Frontiers Earth Science, 2021.
Making seismology accessible to the public in Nepal: an earthquake location tutorial for education purposes.
S. Subedi, P. Denton, K. Michailos, and G. Hetényi
Journal of Nepal Geological Society, 2021.
Crustal thermal structure and exhumation rates in the Southern Alps near the central Alpine Fault, New Zealand.
K. Michailos, R. Sutherland, J. Townend, and M.K. Savage
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2020.
Detailed spatiotemporal analysis of the tectonic stress regime along the central Alpine Fault.
K. Michailos, E. Warren-Smith, M.K. Savage, and J. Townend
Tectonophysics, 2020.
Variations in seismogenic thickness along the central Alpine Fault, New Zealand, revealed by a decade's relocated microseismicity.
K. Michailos, E.G.C. Smith, C.J. Chamberlain, M.K. Savage and J. Townend
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2019.
Implications of upper-mantle seismicity for deformation in the continental collision zone beneath the Alpine Fault.
C.M. Boese, T.A. Stern, K. Michailos, J. Townend, and C.J. Chamberlain
New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 2018.
EQcorrscan: Repeating and Near‐Repeating Earthquake Detection and Analysis in Python.
C.J. Chamberlain, C.J. Hopp, C.M. Boese, E. Warren‐Smith, D. Chambers, S.C. Chu, K. Michailos, and J. Townend
Seismological Research Letters, 2018.

Non Peer-Reviewed Publications

An ‘earthquake swarm’ is shaking Santorini. It could persist for months.
D. Ninis and K. Michailos
The Conversation, 2025.

Open Access Seismological Databases

Receiver Function Database, European Alps – A curated dataset of receiver functions across the European Alps.
Intermediate-Depth Earthquake Catalog, central Himalayas – Earthquake catalog in QuakeML format.
Microseismicity Catalog, central Alpine Fault, New Zealand – A high-resolution, STA/LTA based, earthquake catalog in QuakeML format.
Focal Mechanism Catalog, central Alpine Fault, New Zealand – Focal mechanisms information for small-magnitude earthquakes in QuakeML format.
SAMBA Seismic Network Waveform Data – Continuous waveform data from SAMBA seismic network.

Fieldwork

My work mainly involves staring at computer screens, but I've also been fortunate enough to do fieldwork in different parts of the world.

"Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, AU"

"Nodal deployment in Jura, CH"

"Seismic node deployment, Roccastrada, Tuscany, IT"

"Gravity data survey, Ivrea Geophysical body, Alps, IT"

"Godley Valley, Southern Alps, NZ"

"Seismometer at De la Beche, Southern Alps, NZ"

"Kea spotted at Dusky Sound, NZ"

"Digging out a seismometer in the Southern Alps, NZ"

"Sea lions on Snares Island, NZ"

"Clear skies... on the West Coast of the South Island, NZ"

"Ocean Bottom Seismometers aboard RV Tangaroa"

"Yellow-eyed penguins sighted on Snares Island, NZ"

Recent News

Ongoing Seismic Activity in Santorini

Date: May 10, 2025

The region northeast of Santorini, near the islet of Anydros, has recently experienced heightened levels of seismic activity, beginning in early February 2025. For detailed information on the ongoing activity and to explore seismic maps and data, click the link below.

Explore Santorini Earthquake Data

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