Real-Time Seismic Monitoring in Alberta: Network Expansion, Detection Thresholds, and Magnitude Consistency

Since the early 2010s, Alberta has experienced a significant increase in seismicity, much of it associated with industrial activities such as hydraulic fracturing, and fluid disposal prompting major expansions in seismic monitoring and regulatory oversight. This study summarizes the evolution of Alberta’s real-time seismic monitoring framework, led by the Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) through the Regional Alberta Observatory for Earthquake Studies Network (RAVEN, RV) and complemented by industry-operated stations under the Scientific Induced Seismicity Monitoring Network (SCISMN, I0), which together with other regional networks comprised near 125 telemetered stations by 2025. Using the 2025 earthquake catalogue, we evaluate consistency between local magnitudes calculated by the AGS and those reported by the industry, finding generally strong agreement with minor systematic differences attributable to network geometry and methodological choices. Numerical estimates of magnitude of completeness further demonstrate that detection thresholds in key industrial regions are below regulatory magnitude response levels, confirming that current monitoring capacity is sufficient to reliably detect and characterize induced seismicity in support of seismic hazard assessment, regulatory compliance, and mitigation efforts.