Environmental seismology: What can we learn on earth surface processes with ambient noise?

Abstract

Environmental seismology investigates mechanical vibrations generated by external processes or influenced by phenomena originating outside the solid Earth. It encompasses interactions between the solid Earth and other environmental systems, including the cryosphere, hydrosphere, and anthroposphere, as well as the specific sources of seismic vibrations associated with these systems. This field also examines how environmental factors, such as temperature fluctuations and hydrological variations, affect seismic wave propagation. Recent advances in data-processing techniques, combined with increased computational capabilities and the growing density of seismic sensor networks, have enabled novel observations and contributed to the emergence of environmental seismology as a distinct research field. This article reviews how subtle changes in the Earth's subsurface can be detected and interpreted through variations in seismic wave propagation induced by external environmental processes, with applications to geomechanics, hydrology, and natural hazard assessment. In particular, we demonstrate how ambient seismic noise can be used to monitor: (1) thermal variations in the subsurface, within buildings, and in rock columns; (2) the temporal and spatial evolution of groundwater levels; and (3) changes in the rigidity of the material forming a landslide, with particular emphasis on the reduction in rigidity that may precede slope failure.