K. Michailos, PhD

I am Konstantinos, an observational seismologist at the Australian National University. My research focuses on earthquakes and the physical processes that govern deformation of the Earth’s crust.

I work primarily with seismic observations, including the analysis of earthquake waveforms, the construction of high-quality earthquake catalogs, and the use of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) to study natural hazards such as snow avalanches.

I am committed to open-access and collaborative research practices that advance earthquake science and our understanding of the solid Earth.

Research projects

Installation of 9 seismometers and 5 weather stations as part of the SAMWISE project took place in November 2025.

SAMWISE project

The Southern Alps Monitoring of Weather-Influenced Seismicity and Erosion (SAMWISE) project is an effort to investigatethe interactions between seismicity, surface processes, and hydrologic forcing in the central Kā Tiritiri o te Moana / Southern Alps.

SAMWISE focuses on the analysis of seismic and environmental signals associated with a wide range of natural hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, snow avalanches, rockfalls, glacier-related signals, and intense rainfall events.

Interested students are welcome to get in touch for potential opportunities to work on the project.

View more field photos here

Open Access Receiver Function dataset

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 code on GitHub RF dataset on Zenodo

Moho depth map of the European Alps region.

Publications

Also on Google Scholar.

Peer-reviewed publications

Mantle Transition Zone analysis using P-to-S receiver functions in the Alpine-Carpathian-Dinarides Region: impact of plumes and slabs.
D. Kalmár, L. Petrescu, G. Hetényi, K. Michailos, B. Süle, C. Neagoe, G. Bokelmann.
Geophysical Journal International, 2025.
Temporal evolution of seismicity in the central Southern Alps, New Zealand: Evidence for rainfall-triggered seismicity.
K. Michailos, C.J. Chamberlain, G. Simpson, L. Vargo, N. Oestreicher, S. Cox, J. Townend, M.S. Miller.
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2025.
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, ...
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.

PhD thesis

Microseismicity, tectonic stress, and exhumation rates near the central Alpine Fault, NZ
K. Michailos
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2019.

Open Access Seismological Databases

Click here to expand the list.

Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana Matched-Filter based microseismicity earthquake catalog
K. Michailos
[Data set], Zenodo, 2025.
Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana Focal Mechanism Catalog in quakeML format
K. Michailos
[Data set], Zenodo, 2024.
Receiver Function Database, European Alps
K. Michailos, G. Hetényi, M. Scarponi, J. Stipčević, ...
[Data set], Zenodo, 2023.
Intermediate-Depth Earthquake Catalog, central Himalayas
K. Michailos
[Data set], Zenodo, 2021.
Microseismicity Catalog, central Alpine Fault, New Zealand
K. Michailos
[Data set], Zenodo, 2019.
SAMBA Seismic Network Waveform Data
Continuous waveform data from SAMBA seismic network.
SAMWISE Seismic Network Waveform Data
Continuous waveform data from SAMWISE 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.

"Tasman Glacier, NZ"

"Jolie Valley, NZ"

"Murchison Valley, NZ"

"South Australia, AU"

"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"

"Ocean Bottom Seismometers aboard RV Tangaroa"

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

Recent News

SAMWISE seismic network installation in the central Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, New Zealand

Date: November 2025

The SAMWISE passive seismic network was successfully installed, including nine seismometers and five weather stations, forming a dense array designed to investigate environmental and atmospheric controls on seismicity in alpine terrain.

Click here for more on the SAMWISE installation

Media Release: Seasonal snowmelt and rainfall trigger microearthquakes in New Zealand’s Southern Alps

Date: August 2025

Our latest G-cubed publication was featured in an ANU media release. The study highlights the influence of climate and hydrological processes on seismic activity in alpine regions.

Read the media release

Passive seismic deployment plans in central Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, New Zealand

Date: July 2025

Fieldwork preparation is underway to deploy nine seismometers as part of our ongoing trans-Tasman collaboration, with colleagues in New Zealand.

Click here for more info on the deployment

Anydros earthquake swarm, Santorini, Greece

Date: June 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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