Array-based ambient vibration monitoring of a toppling rock block at Paradise Bay (Malta)

This dataset contains raw ambient vibration recordings acquired at the Paradise Bay promontory, north-western Malta, to characterize the dynamic response of an unstable limestone slab located along the northern rim of the Marfa Ridge plateau. The investigated slab, entirely composed of limestones belonging to the Upper Coralline Limestone formation (UCL), is delimited eastward by a 40 m-long open fracture with surface apertures of 0.3–0.7 m and measured persistence of at least 14 m. Field observations indicate a trapezoidal geometry controlled by lateral spreading and flexural toppling processes. To quantify its dynamic behavior by identifying resonance frequencies and mode shapes, we deployed a linear array of three three-component seismometers (2 Hz SARA SL06) aligned parallel to the rear fracture. Sensors were installed 9 m apart, levelled, oriented to magnetic north, and fixed to the bedrock using mounting putty to ensure ground-coupling. Ambient vibrations were recorded continuously from 10:00 to 13:30 UTC on 5 February 2025 under calm meteorological conditions, at a sampling rate of 250 Hz with synchronized GPS timing.