The quest for reference stations at the National Observatory of Athens, Greece: A comprehensive exploration of seismic site characterization and its impact on earthquake research. This article delves into the challenges and methodologies involved in identifying and defining reference sites for the Greek National Seismic Network. It highlights the importance of accurate site characterization in understanding earthquake behavior and improving seismic hazard assessment. The discussion covers various studies and techniques, including spectral ratio analysis, non-linear inversion of accelerometric data, and the use of machine learning for identifying seismic reference stations. The article also emphasizes the role of the National Observatory of Athens in advancing seismic research and the integration of seismic waveform data from Greece and Cyprus. It concludes by presenting a dataset of supplemental material and full station flatfile, offering valuable resources for researchers and practitioners in the field of earthquake engineering and seismology.
