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Looking ahead

The mutually beneficial relationship between the CTBTO and the global scientific community should be continuously developed and strengthened.

For CTBT verification data and technologies to be most effectively used for civil and scientific purposes, the exchange of ideas needs to be encouraged.  Experts need to continue to identify and understand this vast potential.

The mutually beneficial relationship between the CTBTO and the global scientific community should be continuously developed and strengthened.  This outreach also applies to a number of international organizations that share common interests in science and technology.

Finally, it is imperative to stay abreast of the latest developments in science and technology with a view to their potential civil and scientific applications in the context of the CTBT’s state-of-the-art verification technologies.

The mutually beneficial relationship between the CTBTO and the global scientific community should be continuously developed and strengthened.

Potential civil and scientific applications of the four monitoring technologies

Primary seismic station 47, Mina, Nevada, United States


Seismic
technology can help in rapidly acquiring and disseminating data on earthquakes, in particular on potentially tsunami-generating earthquakes, to assist disaster management and response efforts.  Research on the Earth’s structure can benefit from seismic data generated by CTBTO monitoring stations.  Seismic data can assist in plane crash investigation by providing precise data on time and location.

Hydroacoustic station 05, Guadeloupe, France

Hydroacoustic data can support research on ocean processes and marine life, such as whale populations and migration patterns. Climate change research can benefit from hydroacoustic data. Better weather prediction and estimates can be achieved with hydroacoustic data. Hydroacoustic data can help to mitigate disasters by rapidly acquiring and disseminating data on tsunamis. Shipping safety can be improved by monitoring underwater volcanic explosions, ice shelf break-up and the creation of large icebergs.

Infrasound station 55, Windless Bight, Antarctica, United States

Infrasound technology can help detect volcanic explosions and thus contribute to aviation safety.  It can also assist in detecting a range of other man-made and natural events on the Earth’s surface, including chemical explosions, meteors entering the atmosphere, severe storm systems and aurorae.  By supporting studies of meteorological phenomena, infrasound data can contribute to climate change research.

Radionuclide station 64, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Radionuclide technology can contribute to the research of worldwide background radiation levels. It has the potential to assist climate change research by providing sample archives for historical studies of pollutants and micro-organisms.  Meteorological models developed to track the propagation of radionuclides in the atmosphere can be used to monitor the dispersion of airborne pollutants. Data from radionuclide monitoring stations can provide critical information on nuclear accidents and assist in providing rapid measurement of radioactivity to map the dispersion of radioactive material.