The main goal of the proposed project is to find out common features of seismic swarms in South Iceland and West Bohemia and to refine interpretation methods of measured seismic data. Attention will be paid to better
understanding of earthquake preparation and initiation processes and to the role of crustal fluids (water,
magma, CO2) in these processes. Two practical aspects of the research will be followed: 1) the feasibility of
predicting earthquake swarms; 2) criteria for optimal location of possible geothermal boreholes in West
Bohemia. This project contributes to the priority No. 2.2 “R&D in environmental monitoring systems” and No.
2.5 “R&D of using bio fuels and alternative energy resources as secondary source of energy at municipality
level” of the EEA/Norway FM.

Seismic swarms, which are observed both in Iceland and in the Czech Republic represent series of weak or
middle-sized earthquakes, which terrify inhabitants and cause material damages. This phenomena is carefully
monitored by seismic networks SIL in Iceland and WEBNET in the Czech Republic. However, prediction of
seismic swarm is not possible yet and it needs more sophisticated interpretation of observation. Comparing
data and interpretation can lead to progress in this task.

Through the history of Iceland earthquakes are known to have caused much destruction especially in the
South Icelandic seismic zone. During the later 20th century the fear for repeated seismic activity led to several
actions of preparedness including multipurpose real-time monitoring of the area. After installing the high-level
automatic acquisition and evaluation procedures in South Iceland Lowland (SIL) this region became one of
testing area for the most advance research of seismic source and development of methods for earthquakes
prediction. Iceland is also a leading country in utilization of geothermal energy. This know-how is extremely
profitable for research in West-Bohemia earthquake swarm region. The last earthquakes swarm in October
2008 was registered by sensitive seismic network WEBNET and these data could give us the basis for
progress in earthquake forecasting. Moreover seismic swarms could be related with fluids in Earth core (hot
water or CO2). In this way, Investigation of seismic swarms will bring also information about the potential of
geothermal energy in West Bohemia.