Download Egill Hauksson (CIT)

An International Workshop on the Utilization of Seismographic Networks within
the Global Earth Observing System of Systems
Wednesday, 24 August 2005
Session on Capacity Building and Synergy
Scribe: Egill Hauksson
Moderator: Jeffrey Park
1st Talk: Andy Nyblade – AfricaArray: Using Seismology to Build Science Capacity
in Africa
Talked about capacity building in Africa. Explained the multiple layers of arrays, for
data collection, training of students, etc.
www.africaarray.psu.edu
Described public private partnerships that include universities, governments, and the
private natural resource sector.
Major components:
1) Installing new and upgrading existing stations to have broadband capability and
real-time telemetry
2) Install GPS and other sensors
3) Collect data for training of students
4) Train students both in technical operations as well as in doing science with the
data
Use data to understand some of the large-scale geodynamic problems associated with the
Africa plate and the African superplume.
Important to link capacity building with developing observing systems.
Examples of economic benefits (these are shown in detail in Andy’s slides)
1) Communicating and transferring new knowledge into the local communities
2) Foster self-sufficiency and independence among scientists in developing nations
3) Provide new data that can be used for both training and response to potential
natural disasters by local experts
4) Training of students using local data provides an important motivation
A potential GEOSS issue would be to endorse the AfricaArray as a GEOSS activity as
well as a model for other GEOSS tasks/activities worth supporting by both developed and
developing nations.
2nd Talk: Tim Dixon – Role of Space Geodesy in GEOSS
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Discussed GPS and InSAR
Declared that no strain transients useful for earthquake prediction had been reported.
Showed an example of how GPS data and seismicity data were used to determine the
geometrical configuration of the locked zoned on the subduction interface offshore from
Costa Rica.
Explained application of GPS data for volcano monitoring using Long Valley Caldera,
eastern California as an example.
Talked about availability of InSAR data. Mostly commercial outfits provide InSAR data
and most users have to pay for the data.
GEOSS could contribute to making the InSAR data more easily available. Talked about
DDL or direct download capability as a means of providing near-real time InSAR data.
Explained how GPS ??? allowed measurement of the earth’s oblateness (J2) was
changing with time, presumably due to melting of glaciers in the northern hemisphere.
Thus GPS contributes to global change issues that are of interest to GEOSS.
Talked about application of high sample rate GPS data for quick determination of
magnitude for major earthquakes, where seismic data may saturate. Examples included
Denali and Sumatra earthquakes.
Examples of economic benefit:
1) Prediction of volcanic activity
2) Identification and quantification of earthquake hazards
A potential GEOSS issue would be to identify synergies between GPS done for land-use
planning, local ship and air traffic navigation, and GPS done for scientific purposes.
3rd Talk: Jeffrey J. Love – Intermagnet and USGS Magnetic Observatory
Operations
The talk is about two projects:
National Geomagnetism operated by the USGS in Golden
Intermagnets
Applications: 1) Geological exploration
2) Monitoring of the space environment for space exploration and satellite
operation.
The US operates 14 magnetic observatories and all data are collected and analyzed in
Golden Colorado. Three different instruments are operated at each site. The special
theodolite requires a human to make a measurement once per week.
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Data are made available via annual CD volumes (an incentive to get data in on time) and
via web pages.
A large magnetic storm in the upper atmosphere may interrupt radio communications on
earth, change orbits of satellites, and cause catastrophic failures of satellites. Thus,
GEOSS needs to be concerned with global availability of magnetic field data.
The Intermagnet observatories project was started in 1991. To be a member an
observatory needs to meet standards of data formats and quality. Today there are 40
countries and 100 observatories participating. See also: www.intermagnet.org. Probably,
~100 countries could be members of Intermagnet, and increased membership should be a
GEOSS activity.
Examples of economic benefit:
1) Monitoring and reporting of magnetic declination changes in the northern
hemisphere during magnetic storms
2) Assist with diagnostics of failures of radio communications and satellites
3) Data used to derive secondary products by other agencies, such as for, radio
communications, satellite operations, and space exploration
4) Observatories are needed to support aeromagnetic surveys
New research requires high frequency data to study resonance in magnetic field lines.
A GEOSS issue would be to strengthen intermagnet project and get true global
participation.
3rd Talk: Hank Bass – Infrasound in the Geosciences
Talked about infrasound in the frequency range from 0.02 to 8 Hz
There are numerous existing monitoring systems but the data are mostly not available for
scientific research or other purposes.
Unfortunately infrasound data are only available from a few observing stations around
the globe. These few monitoring sites have growing libraries of infrasound events.
Sources of infrasound:
1) Surf
2) Microbaroms
3) Sprites, Aurora
4) Bolides
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Weather is a big noise source and because the signals decay slowly the noise sources
as well as interesting infrasound event signals last a long time and may be apparent
noise sources.
As an example, the 2004 Mw9 Sumatran earthquake emitted infrasound that
emanated from a local source in the mountains to the east of the epicenter.
A possible synergy goal with GEOSS is to build a global database of known
infrasound events.
Examples of economic benefits:
1) Monitor volcanoes to warn of eruptions and possible ash plume in the atmosphere
that may affect airplanes
2) Monitor for unusual events such as the Columbia shuttle disaster
3) Prediction of surf height for surfers
A possible GEOSS issue would be to facilitate timely release of all infrasound data,
including data collected by CTBTO.
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