Open AccessThe global seismographic network surpasses its design goal
Author(s) -
Butler Rhett,
Lay Thome,
Creager Ken,
Earl Paul,
Fischer Karen,
Gaherty Jim,
Laske Gabi,
Leith Bill,
Park Jeff,
Ritzwolle Mike,
Tromp Jeroen,
Wen Lianxing
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2004eo230001
Subject(s) - seismometer , globe , pacific basin , geography , global network , telecommunications , seismology , meteorology , state (computer science) , engineering , geology , oceanography , computer science , medicine , ophthalmology , algorithm
This year, the Global Seismographic Network (GSN) surpassed its 128‐station design goal for uniform worldwide coverage of the Earth. A total of 136 GSN stations are now sited from the South Pole to Siberia, and from the Amazon Basin to the sea floor of the northeast Pacific Ocean—in cooperation with over 100 host organizations and seismic networks in 59 countries worldwide (Figure 1). Established in 1986 by the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) to replace the obsolete, analog Worldwide Standardized Seismograph Network (WWSSN),the GSN continues a tradition in global seismology that dates back more than a century to the network of Milne seismographs that initially spanned the globe. The GSN is a permanent network of state‐of‐the‐art seismological and geophysical sensors connected by available telecommunications to serve as a multi‐use scientific facility and societal resource for scientific research, environmental monitoring, and education for our national and international community.