K. Michailos, PhD

I am an observational seismologist currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. My research focuses on understanding seismotectonic processes, using high-quality earthquake catalogs, and multidisciplinary approaches and datasets.

Research Focus

Microseismicity detection and location
Tectonic stress analysis
Mountain building processes
Passive seismic imaging (e.g., receiver functions)

Current Project

In my current work, we are employing ambient noise tomography (ANT) techniques to map the subsurface structures of the Tuscan Magmatic Province in Italy (as part of the SNSF-funded Sinergia MIGRATE project; more details on the project can be found here ).

Research projects

Moho depths and recever functions

Moho discontinuity depth map beneath the European Alps using teleseismic earthquake information (receiver functions) on the seismic data of the AlpArray Seismic Network and other large scale passive experiments (Michailos et al. 2023).

Codes for this project are available here.

Moho discontinuity depth map for the broader European Alpine region.

Intermediate depth earthquakes, central Himalayas.

Intermediate-depth earthquakes beneath the Himalayas

Re-assesment of "unusual" intermediate depth earthquakes, taking place beneath the central part of the Himalayan orogen. To achieve this we used deep-learning based earthquake detection methods (Michailos et al. 2021).

Scripts for this project are available here.

Crustal thermal structure and exhumation in the central Southern Alps, New Zealand

Thermal model of the Southern Alps that enables us to estimate the rates at which the Alps are being uplifted using seismological and geological datasets (Michailos et al. 2020b).

Codes for this project are available here.

Earthquake hypocenter profile with temperature isotherms and exhumation rates.

Microseismicity focal mechanisms, central Alpine Fault, New Zealand.

Microseismicity and tectonic stress near the central Alpine Fault

Longest duration microseismicity earthquake catalog near the central section of the Alpine Fault. Shallow seismogenic cut-off depths near Aoraki/Mount Cook (<8 km) (Michailos et al. 2019).

Crustal stress regime near the central Alpine Fault using first motion polarity focal mechanisms and stress inversions. Remarkably consistent stress orientations in both space and time (Michailos et al. 2020a).