Chapter 6: Summary and Recommendations

Recommendation #1: Develop a verification system for a CTBT which is capable of using all available data, especially those from open global networks.

• The foundation for any open multi-lateral monitoring system will be open access to continuously recorded high quality global seismic data. In the context of the Conference on Disarmament's Group of Scientific Experts talks in Geneva, this need is met through a "beta" network. The technical attributes of the beta network, however, are already being met. At present, many high-quality seismic networks are being installed around the world which exchange data under the Federation of Digital Seismic Networks. These open networks have been installed by seismologists in the U.S., France, China, Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Australia. Advances in global communications permit data from these stations to be collected in near real time.

• Open seismic stations with readily accessible high-quality broadband data will greatly increase the number of scientists that assist indirectly in the monitoring task. In essence, open seismic stations create the technological equivalent of a global "neighborhood watch" program.

• The open global seismic network stations will be useful to detect events in specific regions and to aid in event identification. In addition, broad-band three-component data will create a basis for research in monitoring at regional distances.

• Open seismic networks are an important resource not only for deterring proliferation, but also for the mitigation of earthquake hazards and the study of the Earth´s interior. If monitoring systems contribute data to the full spectrum of scientific questions, they will be supported more strongly by local scientists. Thus, the monitoring system will become more sustainable.

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  To implement...

• Consider using the existing and developing open global seismic networks to serve the role of the "beta network" described in the Conference on Disarmament's Group of Scientific Experts talks in Geneva.

• To develop and sustain this monitoring resource on a international basis, open networks should be adopted in their entirety, rather than selectively cannibalized to form a specialized network for verification.

• Global seismic networks should be upgraded to enhance their coverage throughout Eurasia, the Middle East, and southern hemisphere. The technical capability of these stations should be expanded by incorporating dial-up capability or near-real time data transmission; recording continuous high-frequency three-component data; and improving high-frequency noise characteristics.

• Redundancy of coverage should be encouraged as a cost-effective way to improve "uptime" in areas of operational difficulty, and for data validation.

• International technical discussions of CTBT monitoring should be expanded to include other agencies with major long-term investments in open global seismic networks, e.g. the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Science Foundation. The leadership of these discussions should reside with an agency without conflicting interests in the development or testing of nuclear weapons and overseen by an independent expert review panel.

• Global seismic stations should host a broad spectrum of geophysical and environmental monitoring sensors. Such data would be useful not only for treaty monitoring, but for a range of scientific and environmental problems, and would contribute to sustaining the interests and support of the host country more than mono-disciplinary seismic stations whose sole purpose is for verification.

• Computer communication networks should be expanded to include as many open stations as possible. Rapid access to data should be developed through enhanced satellite, telephone, or computer network data communication systems.

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  Nuclear Testing and Nonproliferation

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