Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Verification

Abstract

The first national approaches for detecting foreign nuclear explosions date back to the very early times of nuclear weapons testing. The first test ban treaties (Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), 1963; Threshold Test Ban Treaty (TTBT), 1972) had no provisions for verification and relied on national technical means (NTM). The Group of Scientific Experts formed at the Geneva based United Nations (UN) Conference on Disarmament carried out a number of technical tests to investigate and demonstrate a global seismic monitoring operation. All these experiences lead to the conclusion that a test ban treaty is verifiable. The Comprehensive-Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has been negotiated at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva between 1993 and 1996. It was opened for signature in September 1996. Though the CTBT has been signed by 176 states and ratified by 126 (as of December 2006), it is not yet in force due to its specific conditions for entry-into-force. However, the Preparatory Commission for the CTBT Organisation has a mandate to establish the International Monitoring System (IMS), the International Data Centre (IDC) and prepare the procedures for On-Site Inspections (OSI). This is carried out by the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) based in Vienna, Austria. The goal is to have the completed verification system in place and ready to operate as soon as the CTBT enters into force. The CTBT has several provisions for verification of compliance. The International Monitoring System consists of four networks with different sensor technologies: seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclides. In addition, the CTBT allows for confidence building measures, consultation and clarification as well as On-Site Inspections.