Speaker
Description
The IMS uses hydroacoustic, seismic, infrasound and radionuclide technologies to monitor compliance with the CTBT. These technologies, together with data/products of the IDC, have potential civil/scientific applications which benefit states and the scientific community. IMS hydrophone and T-phase stations are able to monitor natural geophysical events (underwater seismicity and volcanism) and marine mammals. Whales have very wide range of vocalizations that can be readily detected by IMS stations. The nature of sounds, duration, pattern and frequency content, can be used to identify the whale species. Hence it is possible to obtain information on the position, populations, migration/ seasonal patterns and illegal hunting of individual whale species. Acoustic thermometry in the oceans can be used for monitoring the average, long term temperature changes, improved understanding processes and currents and an increased capability to predict weather phenomena. However, there is a need for an effective tsunami early warning system which could have saved thousands of lives on 26-12-2004 in the Indian Ocean region. Looking ahead, expert discussions need to be continued to improve the understanding of potential civil/scientific applications of verification data and technologies. Member States could increase the exchange among countries to spread technological knowledge and ease access to verification technologies.
