Earthquake swarms & fluids
Resolving how fluids, magma and inherited structures control earthquake-swarm initiation, migration and rupture.
Seismologist · Principal Investigator
Pınar
Büyükakpınar
I study how tectonic structures, crustal fluids and magmatic processes interact to generate earthquakes, swarms and transient deformation.
Featured · August 2026
My scientific journey on deutschland.de
In a new interview, I reflect on how the 1999 İzmit earthquake shaped my path into seismology, my research career between Türkiye and Germany, and my current work on earthquake swarms, crustal fluids and international collaboration.
On the trail of earthquakes
Published in Turkish and German by deutschland.de.
Research profile
Small earthquakes, large questions
My work combines earthquake source physics, observational seismology, dense seismic networks and data-driven analysis. Starting with small earthquakes and high-resolution observations, I investigate fault-zone behaviour, crustal structure and geohazards at larger scales.
My research spans Türkiye, Central Europe, Iceland, Italy, Ethiopia, Iran and India. At the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, I lead independently funded research and coordinate international, cross-border seismic experiments.
CHASINGGerman Research Foundation (DFG)-funded principal investigator
ELISEScientific coordinator, 300-station experiment
Türkiye · Italy · GermanyInternational research and teaching
Current focus
Research themes
Dense seismic networks
Designing Large-N experiments and turning continuous waveforms into quality-controlled, high-resolution catalogs.
Data-driven seismology
Combining machine learning, waveform similarity and source inversion to reveal activity missed by conventional catalogs.
Scientific engagement
Active across the research community
I organize and chair scientific sessions, contribute invited talks, join international workshops and participate in field campaigns across active tectonic and volcanic regions.
Public outreach
Science beyond academia
My research has reached wider audiences through international news, public-facing science communication, public seminars and expert commentary.
Explore engagement & outreach →Affiliation
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
Principal Investigator based in Potsdam, Germany, with sustained collaborations across European and international research networks.