High-quality and open-access seismic data are of great importance for both research and increasing public awareness of actual seismic hazards and risks. We present four seismic networks that currently operate in Poland: the backbone Polish Seismological Network (PLSN), which monitors natural teleseismic events as well as regional events from Poland, and three networks that mainly serve the monitoring of anthropogenic seismicity. The acquired data from all four networks are openly available through the European Plate Observing System (EPOS) Information Technology (IT) facilities: the PLSN data within the Observatories and Research Facilities for European Seismology–European Integrated Data Archive and the anthropogenic seismicity data episodes through the induced seismicity-EPOS platform of EPOS Thematic Core Service Anthropogenic Hazards. For each network, we describe briefly the recorded seismic activity, the equipment and composition of the network, the acquisition system, and the data availability. Information from recent studies is used to demonstrate the scientific potential of the acquired anthropogenic seismicity data.

In the study, a comparison between the results of seismic profiling and the active seismoacoustic method WAS-96/RMS has been presented. The methods were used to assess the impact of an overlying coal seam edge on the relative stress state of the test heading in the chosen hard coal mine in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland. The work presents the methodologies of measurement, processing and interpretation of both methods. In the research area there were two edges of the adjacent seams at vertical distances of 70 and 100 m. The obtained results allowed for the development of conclusions regarding the effectiveness of both methods. It was stated, that the seismic profiling method, as well as the WAS-96/RMS method allowed for the identification of anomalies in the area of impact of the overlying coal seams. Based on previous experience, a comparison of the advantages and limitations of the seismic profiling and the WAS- 96/RMS method has also been presented. As a result, it was found that seismic profiling should be the basic method for assessing the impact of the edges and remnants of exploited seams, whereas the WAS-96/RMS method may be used as a complementary method if a confirmation of the rockbursts threat is required.

In the study, the determining of the reference velocity of the P-wave in coal seams used in seismic profiling to assess increases and decreases in relative stresses at large depths has been presented. The seismic profiling method proposed by Dubinski in 1989 covers a range of depth up to 970 m. At present, coal seams exploitation in Polish coal mines is conducted at greater depths, even exceeding 1200 m, which creates the necessity for a new reference velocity model. The study presents an empirical mathematical model of the change of the P-wave velocity in coal seams in the geological conditions of the Jastrzebie coal mine. A power model analogous to the Dubinski’s one was elaborated with new constants. The calculations included the results from 35 measurements of seismic profiling carried out in various coal seams of the Jastrzebie mine at depths from 640 to 1200 m. The results obtained cause changes in the result of calculations of seismic anomalies. Future validation of the proposed model with larger data set will be required.

In this work, the results of four seismic tomography surveys are presented. The research was conducted to identify the zones exposed to the threat of gas and rock outburst. The changes to the dolomite layer stiffness in the mining excavation roofs were analyzed. The surveys were conducted in the Rudna copper ore mine in the field of XXVIII/1. The research area was about 0.21 km2. The seismic waves were generated by a small amount of explosive material (100 - 300 g) located and installed in short blast holes (1.5 - 2.0 m). The processing and the interpretation of the measurement data did not cause serious problems due to the more favourable elastic properties of the dolomite layer compared to the adjacent anhydrite and sandstone layers. As a result, the maps of parameters like the longitudinal wave velocity (P-wave), the shear wave velocity (S-wave), and the ratio of the Pwave velocity to S-wave velocity and the dynamic Young modulus were estimated. The results showed that the changes in the seismic parameters were relatively small over most of the research area. This may be evidence of the minor effects of gas and rock outbursts.