Summary Intraplate earthquakes in stable continental regions exhibit diverse characteristics in terms of timing, spatial distribution, and magnitude. They are often unexpected, and their underlying physical mechanisms are not well understood. This complexity is particularly apparent in Norway, where seismicity is mostly localised on the continental margin and coastal areas. Various studies have attempted to explain the causes of seismicity in Norway by invoking different sources of stress, ranging from regional stress due to ridge push to local effects such as topography or deglaciation. In this study, we revisit these questions by investigating the distribution of seismicity in southwestern Norway using an enhanced earthquake catalogue. To achieve this, we revised the Norwegian National Seismic Network seismic catalogue from 2000 to 2023 and built a new catalogue using machine-learning-based techniques on data from a temporary seismic deployment in the region. Thanks to the increased station density during this deployment, we were also able to calculate new fault plane solutions that consistently showed a WNW-ESE direction for the most compressive axis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that seismicity in southwestern Norway, while diffuse, tends to be localised around the major crustal shear zones of the region, such as the Bergen Arc Shear Zone and the Hardangerfjord Shear Zone.
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