Review of the manuscript No. essd-2024-185 ‘MUDA: dynamic geophysical and geochemical MUltiparametric DAtabase’ submitted to Earth System Science Data (ESSD).

                                                    

Recommendation: accept.

Focus of the paper: this is the data descriptor article where the authors presented the new dynamic geophysical and geochemical MUltiparametric DAtabase (MUDA). 

Relevance: The presented study is the original primary research within the scope of the journal since it presents a novel software for seismic and geophysical data processing. 

Abstract is well written and clearly describes the undertaken study.

Structure: The article is well organized with structured sections and subsectiocs. The logic between these sections is well maintained.

Introduction presents a background, defines research goals and provides a clear statement of research problem of processing and handling seismic data efficiently. The authors described the existing main seismic networks of Italy: RSN managed by INGV, Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks, FDSN, International Seismological Center, ISC, SEED etc. The state-of-the-art section presents the purpose of the research investigation which is supported by the pertinent literature. Literature is well referenced and relevant.

Motivation is explained: today, the interaction between tectonics and crustal fluids dynamics is still lacking a simultaneous monitoring of the relative key factors. This study contributes to fill in the gaps through presenting a novel instrument for development of multiparametric monitoring (MUDA).

English language: acceptable. Clear, unambiguous, professional English language used throughout.

Data used in this study are described: The authors used data collected by multidisciplinary monitoring networks stored in MUDA (geophysical and geochemical MUltiparametric DAtabase), a new dynamic multiparametric database.

Methods: The methodological approach is well explained and described: MUDA is a MySQL relational database with a web interface developed in php, aimed at investigating in quasi real time possible correlations between seismic phenomena and variations in endogenous and environmental parameters. Methods described with sufficient information. The workflow is well structured.

Results are reported: The authors present case examples of using data from MUDA using five main target areas, such as the Garda region, Lake Garda, eastern Alps, Po alluvial basin and Northern and Central Apennine chains. These data enabled to test and compare seismicity in these areas. They well explain how the data are applied and used. Thus, the authors noted functional approach of MUDA: it collects data from different types of sensors such as hydrogeochemical probes for physical-chemical parameters in waters, meteorological stations, detectors of air Radon concentration, diffusive flux of carbon dioxide (CO2) and seismometers belonging both to the National Seismic Network of INGV and to temporary networks installed in the framework of multidisciplinary research projects.  

Discussion interpreted the major outcomes of this study: the authors highlighted the efficiency of MUDA which daily publishes data updated to the previous day and offers the chance to view and download multiparametric time series selected for different time periods. The advantages of the results are described regarding the novel tool for network data management and seismic data sharing.

Conclusion The resultant dataset provides broad perspectives in the framework of future high frequency and continuous multiparametric monitoring. The importance of this paper is well summarized as follows: MUDA contributes to the development of seismic monitoring tools aimed at detecting and identification of possible seismic precursors for short-term earthquake forecasting. This clearly contributes to the mitigating geological hazard and risks in mountainous areas such as Italy. 

Actuality, novelty and importance of the research is clear: The authors developed MUDA – a new infrastructure of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) which aims at archiving and disseminating multiparametric seismic data 

Academic contribution: The paper increases the knowledge in seismic monitoring, mitigating geophysical hazards and risks through operative monitoring of seismic signals using MUDA. The paper deserved to be published in Earth System Science Data (ESSD). 

Figures: Figures are of acceptable quality, easy to read, relevant and suitable. They include seismograms, print screens of MUDA, with working interface, tables, maps and workflow chart, and other illustrations 

Recommendation: This manuscript can be accepted based on the detailed report above.

With kind regards,

- Reviewer.

13.07.2024.

General comments

The manuscript describes a new dynamic geophysical and geochemical MUltiparametric DAtabase (MUDA), created at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and published online in December 2023.

MUDA is based on a MySQL relational database with a web interface developed in PHP. In addition, the authors use additional processing programs written in PITON.

The purpose of MUDA is the automated collection, storage, archiving of multi-parameter data collected by multidisciplinary monitoring networks in Italy, and providing interactive user access to information about observation stations and to the received data via the Internet (https://muda.mi.ingv.it/index.php?lang=en).

The specified link provides access to DAtabase (MUDA), which allows you to familiarize yourself with the details of the creation of the project, with an interactive map of stations, data on all stations. This made it possible to obtain a full understanding of the capabilities of MUDA and compare them with the text of the manuscript.

Data on stations includes information on the geological and geomorphological conditions of their location, coordinates, and a brief description of wells and equipment. It is possible to view data for the entire observation period and at the latest time intervals of 1 day, week, month. It is possible to download data in cvc format and in the form of time graphs.

Of greatest interest to me was assessing the possibility of studying correlations between the behavior of hydrogeochemical data (level/pressure, temperature and electrical conductivity of groundwater in wells, concentrations of radon and carbon dioxide in the air) with endogenous and exogenous factors.

By endogenous factors, the authors apparently mean seismic signals recorded at a network of seismic stations and earthquake catalogs. Exogenous factors apparently refer to data from meteorological stations measuring atmospheric pressure, air temperature and precipitation.

Unfortunately, many shortcomings of MUDA for solving this stated problem have been revealed.

Specific comments

1. An analysis of the possibility of using MUDA to study the correlation between hydrogeochemical data, seismicity and meteorological parameters revealed the following disadvantages that do not allow us to effectively solve this problem:

- the text lacks a general description of the well network, in particular, there is no data on the range of depths of observation wells, temperature, salinity and chemical composition of water;

- time series of observations at wells are predominantly short and limited to the first years (what is the reason?);

- there is no information about the technogenic influence on the behavior of hydrogeochemical parameters, although the factor of technogenic influence in urbanized areas is known to have a significant impact, especially on groundwater in shallow aquifers;

- there is no information on the quality of observation data on groundwater parameters in wells: from the overview graphs of observational data for all time, it follows that the database contains both registration data and data representing technical defects; analysis of data quality for the entire observation period for individual wells is missing and, apparently, was not provided for;

- there is no information about logs of visits to individual wells and equipment maintenance work.

The authors of MUDA carried out additional processing of the original seismic records with a frequency of 100 and 200 Hz in order to ensure their loading and viewing in MUDA. In my opinion, this is an unnecessary procedure that does not have a scientific basis for solving problem No. 1. Data from earthquake catalogs would be sufficient to solve it.

1. Similar remarks arise when solving the problem of searching for correlations between the behavior of geochemical parameters - radon and carbon dioxide with seismicity and meteorological parameters. The results of this analysis also showed that there are very few geochemical observation stations and corresponding data. This should also be written about in the text.

1. The presentation of graphical material in the manuscript and in MUDA is mostly unsatisfactory:

- small, unclear font makes it difficult to see dates;

-  on the Time scale, years are not indicated;

- there are errors in the signatures (Fig. 4, 5 – “Idrogeochemical???”;

- the dates of inspection of well bores are not indicated.

Graphs are presented rotated 180 degrees.

It is generally very difficult to work with a manuscript, since the text, illustrations and captions are located in different places.

Conclusion

Despite all these shortcomings, MUDA works and shows an example of creating an automated system of multiparametric data, with the help of which current scientific problems can be solved in the future, including the study of correlations between seismic phenomena, changes in groundwater parameters in wells, taking into account meteorological data.

MUDA currently publishes daily data updated from the previous day and offers the ability to view and download multi-parameter time series selected for different time periods.

The use of MUDA in scientific research at the current stage of its development is problematic due to the lack of a critical analysis of the quality of data in the database.

1. I support the development of MUDA for future multi-parameter monitoring to identify possible short-term precursors of earthquakes. However, for this, the authors need to pay more attention to the features of the observation network and the conduct of observations in wells, as well as to the patterns of behavior of hydrogeochemical parameters and to issues of technogenic influence.

Review of the manuscript entitled “MUDA: dynamic geophysical and geochemical MUltiparametric DAtabase" by M. Massa and co-authors.

Recommendation: accept after minor revision

The authors present a new and multidisciplinary database containing dynamic geophysical and geochemical data, which are collected in five target regions of Italy. In the manuscripts, the authors first provide the geological and seismotectonic framework, as well as an exhaustive state of the art on data acquisition and sharing. Then, they make a detailed description of the MUDA data and their processing, and finally they present a practical application.

The creation of multidisciplinary databases such as MUDA is relevant for the scientific research because it allows fast and wide data dissemination. MUDA publishes updated and good-quality data, which are shared with no restriction, so it represents a useful tool for all the researchers involved in multidisciplinary (geophysical, geochemical and hydrological) studies on North and Central Italy. In addition, all the detailed information provided in the manuscript contribute to make MUDA database easily accessible by the end users.

Overall, the manuscript is clear and well written. The sections are well organized. Although I’m not a mother tongue, I found the language plain and clear. The figures are of good quality and all useful to the comprehension of the text.

I have few minor comments:

The authors generally use the word “Radon” in uppercase, but sometimes it is written in lowercase. Please make it homogeneous.

L 31-32 Unclear sentence.

L 39 evidence --> evidences

L 86 Po alluvial basin and Northern and Central Apennine chains --> Po alluvial basin, Northern and Central Apennine chains

L100 October 30^th, 1901 à October 30, 1901

Check and make homogeneous the date format in the whole text (the authors mainly use Month day, year). See also L583-584 and the captions of Figure 7, 8, 10 and 11.

L247 Hydrogeochemical, seismic, meteorological and Radon data

I guess the authors should include CO2 too.

L351 RSM --> RMS

Check also in the remaining part of the text (e.g. L506)

L356 Root Mean Square --> RMS

The abbreviation has been previously defined, so please use it in the remaining part of the text (e.g. L397). This also holds for FFT (Fast Fourier Transform).

Section 4.2 regards seismic data processing, but part of this procedure has been described at the end of Section 4.1 (Processing of row data). Although the description of seismic data processing is longer compared to the other geochemical and hydrological data, I suggest to merge section 4.2 with the last paragraph of Section 4.1.  Otherwise, the authors could make 5 different subsections relative to the processing of each of the 5 types of data.

L425 HVSR, please add a reference to this technique.

L 442 A further 2 --> 2 further

L493 – 499 and L581

2020-12-29… 202/12/19…  Make homogeneous the date format.

L542 session --> section

L550-551 as a consequence of 2 days of intense rainfall with measured values of precipitation in a narrow area surrounding Bondo up to 400 mm --> as a consequence of 2 days of intense rainfall with measured values of precipitation up to 400 mm in a narrow area surrounding Bondo

Section 7 (Data Availability) should me moved (and renumbered) after Section 8 (Usage Notes and conclusions).

L644 acquifers features --> acquifer features (or acquifers’ features)

L649 In particular --> In addition

L1135 Multiparametric sites web page à Multiparametric site web page (or Multiparametric sites’ web page)

L1149 type à types

L 1150 starts à stars

I think that after having addressed my suggestions, the manuscript will meet the requirements for publication Earth System Science Data (ESSD).

Kind regards

Reviewer