Monitoring of Underground Nuclear Tests by Seismic Stations in the Former Soviet Union (FSU)

Abstract

This paper gives the total numbers of underground nuclear explosions detected and identified for each nuclear weapon state, and shows how the detection capability improved with time. The monitoring capability of the network of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) is compared with that of the International Seismological Center (ISC). Relationships between body wave magnitude and explosion yield are determined for all nuclear test sites. A discussion is given of seismic monitoring capabilities for the following International treaties, actual and proposed: Threshold Test Ban Treaty (TTBT), Peaceful Nuclear Explosion Treaty (PNET), Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Analysis of 204 early unannounced underground nuclear explosions (UNE) conducted by the U.S. at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) shows that 61 of them were detected by the seismic network of the FSU. As a result of this analysis, the sensitivity threshold of seismic monitoring of UNE at teleseismic distances by seismic network stations in the FSU has been estimated more accurately.