the international seismological centre an earth observation system of systems

GEOSS- Washington 2005

The International Seismological centre

An Earth Observation System of Systems

Avi Shapira – International seismological Centre, UK

Comments by: Diana Comte – University of Chile


An international non-governmental non-profit An international non-governmental non-profit making scientific organization, charged with the making scientific organization, charged with the final collection, analysis and publication of final collection, analysis and publication of earthquake source information from all over the earthquake source information from all over the globe.globe.

Formed in 1964 by the initiative of UNESCO.

Successor of the International Seismological Summary (1917-1964).

Members: National Academies, Scientific institutions and non-profit making organizations.


Main Objectives

1. Final collection, analysis and publication of standard earthquake information from all over the world.

2. Re-determine earthquake locations making use of all available information.

3. Re-determine earthquake magnitudes mb and Ms.

4. Search for new earthquakes, previously unidentified by individual agencies.

5. Maintain the International Seismic Station Registry.6. Serve as a depository of global seismological data.


A DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM OF DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS

Measurements:

Associated and non associated readings of seismic wave arrival times, measured amplitudes and periods, Array processing results (Slowness and Azimuth).

Evaluations:

Event locations, Seismic Moments and Moment tensors, Fault Plane Solutions, Magnitudes.

Other data:

Macroseimic observations, Event Classification.


DATA ARE PUSHED RATHER THAN RETRIEVED

All data arrive by e-mailAll data arrive by e-mail..

Data messages are automatically parsed and inserted in the Data messages are automatically parsed and inserted in the relational Data Baserelational Data Base..

Data start being received few days after events occur, Data start being received few days after events occur, continuously updating the on-line non-reviewed ISC bulletincontinuously updating the on-line non-reviewed ISC bulletin..

ISC strict schedule requires ISC strict schedule requires ALLALL data to arrive at least 18 month data to arrive at least 18 month after event occurrence to provide a reviewed ISC Bulletin 24 after event occurrence to provide a reviewed ISC Bulletin 24 months or less after occurrencemonths or less after occurrence . .

The extended time for data collection reflects the interests of the contributors .


Data contributed by more Data contributed by more than 100 agenciesthan 100 agencies


Data Processing and AnalysisISC analysts manually review every event that complies with one of the following conditions:

• The reported magnitude is higher than 3.5.

• The event was reported by at least 2 agencies

• The event was recorded at a distance greater than ~1000 km.

An ISC solution is provided when:

• There are more than 4 phase readings (P or S).

• The solution converges successfully.

ABOUT 3500 EVENTS WITH MORE THAN 150000 ASSOCIATED READINGS ARE REVIEWED EACH MONTH


0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

3000000

3500000

4000000

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# As

soci

atio

ns/P

hase

s

0

50000

100000

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250000

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350000

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450000

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# Ev

ents

Associations

Phases

Events

The ongoing growth of the ISC data baseThe ongoing growth of the ISC data base


DATA COLLECTION

Data collected from more than 3000 seismic stationsData collected from more than 3000 seismic stations


ISC – Data completeness of global seismicityISC – Data completeness of global seismicity

Earthquakes (2002, mb)

1

10

100

1000

10000

0.1

0.4

0.7 1

1.3

1.6

1.9

2.2

2.5

2.8

3.1

3.4

3.7 4

4.3

4.6

4.9

5.2

5.5

5.8

6.1

6.4

6.7 7

7.3

7.6

Magnitude

# E

vent

s

Continental

Ocean


Needs!

More stations in seismic regions such as More stations in seismic regions such as in South America, Asia and Africain South America, Asia and Africa..

Ocean Bottom SeismometersOcean Bottom Seismometers..

Facilitate temporal deployment of Facilitate temporal deployment of seismic networks (e.g., “PASSCAL” seismic networks (e.g., “PASSCAL” consortia)consortia)


ISC – The world’s reference to global seismicityISC – The world’s reference to global seismicity


Distribution of ISC Catalogue and Bulletin

Every 4 months:

1. A 4-month printed Bulletin including only source parameters of edited events.

2. An attached CD-ROM with

1. A Comprehensive Catalogue (FFB and ISF files).

2. A Comprehensive Bulletin (FFB and ISF files).

3. A PDF file of a complete 4-month Bulletin.

THESE FILES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE ISC WEBSITE THESE FILES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE ISC WEBSITE AND FROM THE FTP SERVERAND FROM THE FTP SERVER.


Distribution of ISC Catalogue and Bulletin

1. A CD-ROM with:

A Comprehensive Catalogue 1904-recent (FFB and ISF files).

A Regional Catalogue (PDF file) of the last year edited events.

PDF files of format descriptions, programs to read and view data.

2. A CD- ROM with:

12 Comprehensive monthly Bulletins (compressed FFB and ISF files)

PDF files of 12 monthly Bulletins (edited events only).

THESE FILES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE ISC THESE FILES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE ISC WEBSITE AND FROM THE FTP SERVERWEBSITE AND FROM THE FTP SERVER

Annual


INTERNET DATA SERVICES

Waveform and additional earthquake data: Links to: USGS, Harvard Univ., Michigan Univ., Univ. Cal. Berkeley, Univ. Oregon, ORFEUS, COSMOS and NSMP.

Seismic waveform using IRIS Data Handling Interface.

Distribute ISC Bulletin through the IRIS DHI.

Bibliography of Seismology (1977-1996).

Station Book and International Registry of Seismic Stations.

Automated SKS splitting measurements.

Documentation.

Address Book of Seismologists and Seismological Institutions.

Reference Events.


INTERNET DATA SERVICESLinkage to Cyberinfrastructure activities

Website Usage 2004

USA

.com

Greece

Italy

Russia

United Kingdom

.org

Japan

New Zealand

Turkey

Others

ISC Website Usage

0

20000

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140000

1 Ja

n 00

1 M

ay 0

0

1 S

ep 0

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1 Ja

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1 S

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1 S

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1 Ja

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1 M

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1 S

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1 M

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4

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4

# H

its

HitsSearch


Response to emergency situations Response to emergency situations

Acquiring macroseismic information from the affected areas.

EQ-Info: Networking databases for Real Time earthquake scenarios.

Smoothing progress of people and equipment across borders.


FUTURE PLANSFUTURE PLANS

MODERNIZE SEISMIC STATION CODE NAMES

The coding system in the International Station registry does not meet all current requirements by the parametric data centres (ISC, NEIC, EMSC) and by data contributors.

- IASPEI established a special working group to come up with recommendations.

-Any recommended new system will require changes to almost all ISC s/w.


FUTURE PLANS - autoSEMFUTURE PLANS - autoSEM

MODERNIZE AND AUTOMATE MAGNITUDE DETERMINATIONS

The amplitudes for standard magnitude scales mb and Ms are not homogeneously measured.

The few agencies that systematically report amplitudes, heavily bias ISC magnitude determinations.

ISC has to introduce a standard scale : Mw

- ISC will develop a program autoSEM that will automatically collect Seismic Moment information and provide ISC Mw magnitudes..

- autoSEM will be able to automatically retrieve waveform data from selected stations and apply existing procedures (donated modules) to determine Mo, Mw, mb and Ms.


For more information

www.isc.ac.ukwww.isc.ac.uk

ftp://ftp.isc.ac.ukftp://ftp.isc.ac.uk


THANK YOUTHANK YOU

the international seismological centre an earth observation system of systems

Documents

data processing

data start

data messages

relational data base

monthgeoss washington

agenciesgeoss washington

event locations

event occurrence