Vincent van der Heiden, MSc

What is the largest possible earthquake in a given region?
As a PhD candidate at Utrecht University, I study the physics of earthquakes. By combining field observations and laboratory measurements, I develop physics-based numerical models to better understand how earthquakes start, grow, and how large they can become. I apply these models to induced seismicity in the Groningen gas field, where changes in subsurface pressure have triggered earthquakes. By reconstructing past earthquake sequences and simulating dynamic rupture processes, I investigate how fault geometry, stress conditions, and rock properties control where earthquakes occur and how far they propagate. These insights help improve estimates of seismic hazard and the likelihood of larger, potentially damaging events.

Imaging Hidden Faults with Machine Learning
During my master’s research, I used machine learning to automatically detect and locate earthquakes in Albania, focusing on the aftershock sequence of the 2019 Mw6.4 Durrës earthquake. With data from a dense temporary seismic network, we identified and analysed ~19,000 earthquakes—work that would take years by hand, but only months with these methods.
This detailed dataset revealed the fault system in much greater clarity. We identified previously hidden (“blind”) thrust faults and found evidence for deep, basement-involved deformation, offering new insight into how strain is accommodated at the Adriatic–Eurasian plate boundary. The results also highlight the seismic hazard posed by shallow secondary faults.

This work has been published in Geophysical Journal International: https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggag155

https://www.uu.nl/staff/VvanderHeiden