Seismologist, independent Consultant
Nicholas Deichmann is a seismologist and independent consultant. Until the end of 2012 he was a senior scientist at the Swiss Seismological Service (SED) and lecturer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), to which he was affiliated since 1984.
His academic background includes a BA in philosophy (McGill University) and a Diploma and PhD in Geophysics (ETH Zurich).
He was head of the Seismotectonics/Seismic Source Group at SED and responsible for the annual earthquake report of Switzerland.
His research covers seismotectonics, glacier seismicity, high-resolution hypocenter determinations, quantification of earthquake size and induced seismicity.
Past teaching activity includes courses on seismotectonics, the earthquake source and time series analysis at ETH Zurich.
At present, he is still involved part-time in some of the activities of the Swiss Seismological Service and works occasionally as a consultant for external projects.
Articles in scientific journals and public reports
Deichmann, N. (2018). Why does ML scale 1:1 with 0.5 logES? Seismological Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220180121
Deichmann, N. (2018). The relation between ME, ML and Mw in theory and numerical simulations for small to moderate earthquakes. J. of Seismology, 22(6), 1645-1668. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-018-9786-1
Staudenmaier, N., T. Tormann, B. Edwards, N. Deichmann and S. Wiemer (2018). Bilinearity in the Gutenberg-Richter relation based on ML for magnitudes above and below 2, from systematic magnitude assessments in Parkfield (California). Geophysical Research Letters, 45, 6887-6897. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL078316
Diehl, T., Clinton, J., Deichmann, N., et al. (2018). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2015 and 2016. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 111, 221-243, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-017-0295-y
Vouillamoz, N., Mosar, J. Deichmann, N. (2017). Multi-scale imaging of a slow active fault zone: contribution for improved seismic hazard assessment in the Swiss Alpine foreland. Swiss Journal of Geoscience, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-017-0269-0
Deichmann, N. (2017). Theoretical basis for the observed break in ML/MW scaling between small and large earthquakes. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 107, 2, 505-520, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120160318
Diehl, T., Deichmann, N., Clinton, J., et al. (2015). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2014. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 108/3, 425-443, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-015-0204-1
Pfiffner A., Deichmann N. (2014). Seismotektonik der Zentralschweiz. Nagra Arbeitsbericht NAB 14-26, Nagra, Wettingen.
Deichmann, N., Kraft, T., Evans, K. F., (2014). Identification of faults activated during the stimulation of the Basel geothermal project from cluster analysis and fault mechanisms for the larger magnitude events. Geothermics, 52, 84-97, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2014.04.001
Kraft, T., Deichmann, N., (2014). High-precision relocation and focal mechanism of the injection induced seismicity at the Basel EGS. Geothermics 52, 59-73, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2014.05.014
Zang, A., Oye, V., Jousset, Ph., Deichmann, N., Gritto, R., McGarr, A., Majer, E., Bruhn, D., (2014). Analysis of induced seismicity in geothermal reservoirs – An overview. Geothermics, 52, 6-21, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2014.06.005
Diehl, T., Deichmann, N., Clinton, J., et al. (2013). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2012. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 106/3, 543-558, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-013-0154-4
Marschall, I., Deichmann, N., Marone, F. (2013). Earthquake focal mechanisms and stress orientations in the eastern Swiss Alps. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 106, 79-90, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-013-0129-5
Deichmann, N., Clinton, J., Husen, S., et al. (2012). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2011. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 105/3, 463-476, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-012-0116-2
Bethmann, F., Deichmann, N., Mai, P. M. (2012). Seismic wave attenuation from borehole and surface records in the top 2.5 km beneath the city of Basel, Switzerland. Geophysical Journal International, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2012.05555.x
Evans, K., A. Zappone, T. Kraft, N. Deichmann, and F. Moia (2012). A survey of the induced seismic response to fluid injection in geothermal and CO2 reservoirs in Europe. Geothermics, 41, 30-54.
Terakawa, T., Miller, S. A., Deichmann, N. (2012). High fluid pressure and triggered earthquakes in the enhanced geothermal system in Basel, Switzerland. Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, B07305, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JB008980
Deichmann, N., Clinton, J., Husen, S., et al. (2011). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2010. Swiss J. Geosciences, 104/3, 537-547, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-011-0084-y
Goertz-Allmann, B., Edwards B., Bethmann, F., Deichmann, N., Clinton, H., Fäh, D., Giardini, D. (2011). A new empirical magnitude scaling relation for Switzerland. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 101, 3088-3095, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120100291
Bethmann, F., Deichmann N., Mai, P. M. (2011). Scaling relations of local magnitude vs. moment magnitude for sequences of similar earthquakes in Switzerland. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 101, 2, 515-534, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120100179
Deichmann, N., Sellami, S., Giardini, D. (2011). La Suisse tremble - Sismotectonique des Alpes et du Plateau suisse. Géochronique, 117, 57-60.
Deichmann, N. (2011). Sismicité induite par la stimulation d'un réservoir géothermique dans le sous-sol de Bâle. Géochronique, 117, 55-56.
Deichmann, N., Clinton, J., Husen, S., et al. (2010). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2009. Swiss J. Geosciences, 103/3, 535-549, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-010-0039-8
Fréchet, J., Thouvenot, F., Frogneux, M., Deichmann, N., Cara, M. (2010). The Mw 4.5 Vallorcine (French Alps) earthquake of 8 September 2005 and its complex aftershock sequence. Journal of Seismology, 15, 43-58, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-010-9205-8
Walter, F., Dreger, D. S., Clinton, J. F., Deichmann, N., Funk, M. (2010). Evidence for Near-Horizontal Tensile Faulting at the Base of Gornergletscher, a Swiss Alpine Glacier. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 100, 458 - 472.
Deichmann, N., Clinton, J., Husen, S., et al. (2009). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2008. Swiss J. Geosciences, 102/3, 505-514, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-009-1339-8
Deichmann, N., Ernst, J. (2009). Earthquake focal mechanisms of the induced seismicity in 2006 and 2007 below Basel (Switzerland). Swiss J. Geoscience, 102/3, 457-466, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-009-1336-y
Deichmann, N., Giardini, D. (2009). Earthquakes induced by the stimulation of an enhanced geothermal system below Basel (Switzerland). Seismological Research Letters 80/5, 784-798, https://doi.org/10.1785/gssrl.80.5.784
Kraft, T., Mai, P. M., Wiemer, S., Deichmann, N., Ripperger, J., Kästli, P., Bachmann, C., Fäh, D., Wössner, J., Giardini, D. (2009). Mitigating Risk for Enhanced Geothermal Systems in Urban Areas. EOS Transactions American Geophysical Union, 90/32, 273-274.
Diehl, T., S. Husen, E. Kissling, and N. Deichmann (2009). High-resolution 3-D P-wave model of the Alpine crust. Geophys. J. Int., 179, 1133-1147.
Diehl,T., N. Deichmann, E. Kissling, and S. Husen (2009). Automatic S-wave picker for local earthquake tomography. Bull. Seismo. Soc. Am., 99, 1906-1920.
Walter, F., Clinton, J. F., Deichmann, N., Dreger, D. S., Minson, S. E., Funk, M., (2009). Moment Tensor Inversions of Icequakes on Gornergletscher, Switzerland. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 99-2A, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120080110
Wiemer, S., Giardini, D., Fäh, D., Deichmann, N., Sellami, S. (2009). Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment of Switzerland: best estimates and uncertainties. J. of Seismology, 13, 449-478, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-008-9138-7
Deichmann, N., Baer, M., Clinton, J., et al. (2008). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2007. Swiss J. Geosciences, 101/3, 659-667, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-008-1304-y
Failletaz J. Pralong A., Funk M., Deichmann N. (2008). Evidence of log-periodic oscillations and increasing icequake activity during the breaking-off of large ice mass. J. Glaciology, 54, 187, 725-737.
Walter F., Deichmann N., Funk M. (2008). Basal icequakes during changing subglacial water pressures beneath Gornergletscher, Switzerland. J. of Glaciology, 54, 186, 511-521.
Baer, M., Deichmann, N., Braunmiller, J., et al. (2007). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2006. Swiss J. Geosciences, 100/3, 517-528, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-007-1242-0
Kastrup, U., Deichmann, N,, Fröhlich, A., Giardini, D. (2007). Evidence for an active fault below the northwestern Alpine foreland of Switzerland. Geophys. J. Int., 169, 1273-1288, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-264X.2007.03413.x
Deichmann, N., Baer, M., Braunmiller, J., et al. (2006). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2005. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 99/3, 443-452, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-006-1201-1
Deichmann, N. (2006). Local magnitude, a moment revisited. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 96, 4A, 1267-1277, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120050115
Baer, M., Deichmann, N., Braunmiller, J., et al. (2005). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2004. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 98/3, 407-418, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-005-1168-3
Delacou, B., Deichmann, N., Sue, C., Thouvenot, F., Champagnac, D., Burkhard, M., (2005). Active strike-slip faulting in the Chablais area (NW Alps) from earthquake focal mechanisms and relative locations. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 98/2, 189-199, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-005-1159-4
Braunmiller, J., N. Deichmann, D. Giardini, S. Wiemer and the SED Magnitude Working Group (2005). Homogeneous moment-magnitude calibration in Switzerland, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 95, 1, 58-74, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120030245
Deichmann, N., Baer, M., Braunmiller, J., et al. (2004). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2003. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 97/3, 447-458.
Schwarz-Zanetti, G., Deichmann, N., Fäh, D., Masciadri, V., Goll, J. (2004). The Earthquake in Churwalden (CH) of September 3, 1295. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 97, 255-264.
Gisler, M., Fäh, D., Deichmann, N. (2004). The Valais earthquake of December 9, 1755. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 97, 411-422.
Kastrup, U., Zoback M.-L., Deichmann, N., Evans, K., Giardini, D., Michael, A. J. (2004). Stress field variations in the Swiss Alps and the northern Alpine foreland derived from inversion of fault plane solutions. J. Geophys. Res.,109, B1, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JB002550B01402
Husen, S., Kissling, E., Deichmann, N., Wiemer, S., Giardini, D., Baer, M. (2003). Probabilistic earthquake location in complex three-dimensional velocity models: Application to Switzerland. J. Geophys. Res., 108, B2, 2077-2096.
Schwarz-Zanetti, G., Deichmann, N., Fäh, D., Giardini, D., Jimenez, M.-J., Masciadri, V., Schibler, R., Schnellmann, M. (2003). The earthquake in Unterwalden on September 18, 1601: A historico-critical macroseismic evaluation. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 96/3, 441-450.
Fäh, D., Giardini, D., Bay, F., Bernardi, F., Braunmiller, J., Deichmann, N., et al. (2003). Earthquake catalog of Switzerland (ECOS) and the related macroseismic database. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 96/2, 219-236.
Baer, M., Deichmann, N., Braunmiller, J., et al. (2003). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2002. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 96/2, 313-324.
Deichmann, N., Baer, M., Braunmiller, J., et al. (2002). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2001. Eclogae Geol. Helv. - Swiss J. Geosciences, 95/2, 249-261.
Baer, M., Deichmann, N., Braunmiller, J., et al. (2001). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 2000. Eclogae Geol. Helv., 94/2, 253-264.
Deichmann, N., Ansorge, J., Scherbaum, F., Aschwanden, A., Bernardi, F., Gudmundsson, G. H. (2000). Evidence for deep icequakes in an Alpine glacier. Annals of Glaciology, 31, 85-90.
Deichmann, N., Baer, M., Braunmiller, J., et al. (2000). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 1999. Eclogae Geol. Helv., 93/3, 395-406.
Deichmann, N., Ballarin Dolfin, D., Kastrup, U. (2000). Seismizitaet der Nord- und Zentralschweiz. Nagra Technischer Bericht, NTB 00-05, Nagra, Wettingen.
Baer, M., Deichmann, N., Ballarin Dolfin, D., et al. (1999). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 1998. Eclogae geol. Helv., 92, 2, 265-273.
Courboulex, F., Deichmann, N., Gariel, J.-C. (1999). Rupture complexity of a moderate intraplate earthquake in the Alps: the 1996 M 5 Epagny-Annecy Earthquake. Geophys. J. Int., 139, 152-160.
Deichmann, N. (1999). Empirical Green's functions: a comparison between pulse width measurements and deconvolution by spectral division. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 89, 178-189.
Eva, E., Pastore, S., Deichmann, N. (1998). Evidence for ongoing extensional deformation in the western Swiss Alps and thrust-faulting in the southwestern Alpine foreland. Journal of Geodynamics, 26, 1, 27-43.
Deichmann, N., Baer, M., Ballarin Dolfin, D., et al. (1998). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 1997. Eclogae geol. Helv., 91, 2, 247-246.
Baer, M., Deichmann, N., Fäh, D., et al. (1997). Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during 1996. Eclogae geol. Helv., 90, 3, 557-567.
Pavoni, N., Maurer, H., Roth, P., Deichmann, N. (1997). Seismicity and seismotectonics of the Swiss Alps. In: Deep Structure of the Alps, results of NRP20, Birkhaeuser, Basel, p. 241-250.
Deichmann, N. (1997). Far-field pulse shapes from circular sources with variable rupture velocity. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 87, 5, 1288-1296.
Maurer, H., Burkhard, M., Deichmann, N., Green, A. G. (1997). Active Tectonism in the Western Swiss Alps. Terra Nova, 9, 91-94.
Maurer H., Deichmann, N. (1995). Microearthquake cluster detection based on waveform similarities, with an application to the western Swiss Alps. Geophys. J. Int., 123, 588-600.
Faber, S., Bonjer, K.-P., Bruestle, W., Deichmann, N. (1994). Seismicity and structural complexity of the Dinkelberg block, southern Rhine Graben. Geophys. J. Int., 116, 393-408.
Deichmann, N., Garcia-Fernandez. M. (1992). Rupture geometry from high-precision relative hypocenter locations of microearthquake clusters. Geophys. J. Int., 110, 501-517.
Roth, P., Pavoni, N., Deichmann, N. (1992). Seismotectonics of the Eastern Swiss Alps and evidence for precipitation induced variations of seismic activity. Tectonophysics, 207, 183-197.
Deichmann, N. (1992). Structural and rheological implications of lower-crustal earthquakes below northern Switzerland. Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 69, 270-280.
Scherbaum, F., Gillard, D., Deichmann, N. (1991). Slowness power spectrum analysis of the coda of two microearthquake clusters in northern Switzerland. Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 67, 137-161.
Deichmann, N. (1990). Seismizitaet der Nordschweiz 1987-1989 und Auswertung der Erdbebenserien von Guensberg, Laeufelfingen und Zeglingen. Nagra Technischer Bericht, NTB 90-46, Nagra, Baden.
Deichmann N., Rybach L. (1989). Earthquakes and temperatures in the lower crust below the northern Alpine foreland of Switzerland. In: The Lower Crust: Properties and Processes. ed. R. F. Mereu, St. Mueller, D. M. Fountain, AGU-Monograph 51, IUGG Volume 6, 197-213.
Deichmann N. (1987). Focal depths of earthquakes in northern Switzerland. Annales Geophysicae, 5B, (4), 395-402.
Deichmann N. (1987). Seismizitaet der Nordschweiz, 1983-1986. Technischer Bericht, NTB 87-05, Nagra, Baden.
Deichmann N., Ansorge J., Mueller St. (1986). Crustal structure of the Southern Alps beneath the intersection with the European Geotraverse. Tectonophysics, 126, 57-83.
Deichmann, N., Renggli, K. (1984). Mikrobeben-Untersuchung Nordschweiz, Teil 2: Seismizitaet, Jan. 1983 - Sept. 1984. Technischer Bericht, NTB 84-12, Nagra, Baden.
Mayer-Rosa D., Dietiker M., Deichmann N., Renggli K., Braendli J., Studer J., Rutishauser G. (1984). Mikrobeben-Untersuchung Nordschweiz, Teil 1: Technische Unterlagen, Stationsnetz. Technischer Bericht, NTB 84-11, Nagra, Baden.
Deichmann N. (1984). Combined travel-time and amplitude interpretation of two seismic refraction studies in Europe. Ph.D. Thesis, ETH-Zurich.
Deichmann N., Ansorge J. (1983). Evidence for Lamination in the lower continental crust beneath the Black Forest (southwestern Germany). J. Geophys., 52, 109-118.
Banda E., Deichmann N., Braile, L. W., Ansorge J. (1982). Amplitude study of the Pg-phase. J. Geophys., 51, 153-164.
Deichmann N., Mayer-Rosa D. (1980). A case of thermally-induced microseismic activity at a storage reservoir in Switzerland. Rock Mechanics, Suppl. 10, 77-83.