Using IMS data for climate studies

In the process of scanning the globe around the clock for signs of nuclear explosions in violation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), the stations of the CTBTO's International Monitoring System (IMS) pick up signals from an abundance of natural events. These data are widely considered to be unique and a treasure trove of knowledge with a broad range of civil and scientific applications.
The IMS captures four types of data: seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound, and radionuclide. The network (interactive map) is about 90 percent complete, with some 300 monitoring facilities installed and operational.

Detection of an airburst, presumably from a meteor, over Thailand on 7 September 2015 by five CTBTO infrasound stations.

Scientists and institutions in all 183 CTBTO Member States can also use the data for disaster warning and scientific studies including in the field of climate change. The data can also be accessed via the Virtual Data Exploitation Centre. Following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Member States decided to make IMS data available to tsunami warning centres.

In the process of watching, listening and “sniffing” the globe for signs of nuclear explosions, our monitoring network generates large amounts of data that help scientists better understand our planet, and are applied in a wide range of fields, from atmospheric and climate science, to recording earthquakes and tracking marine mammals.

Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo

The ability of the system to track atmospheric disturbances, whether volcanic eruptions, severe storms or other large scale turbulence, provides a way to improve weather forecasts and, by using nearly two decades of accumulated data, track climate change.

One of the key merits of the CTBTO system is that it has a set of fixed stations which provide a stable monitoring baseline. That stability is useful.

Paul Richards, Columbia University, United States

At the CTBT: Science and Technology Conference series, the main scientific forum to discuss CTBT verification and other uses of CTBTO data, scientists have presented their findings on the use of IMS data for climate monitoring applications. These include:

Identification Signals from Atmospheric Storms
Tracking Icebergs with Hydro-Acoustic Arrays of the International Monitoring System
Global Infrasound from Nonlinear Ocean Wave Interactions
Meteorological Flow Characteristics of Different Regions of Nepal
Ocean Acoustic Thermometry Using Active Biological Sources Recorded at IMS Hydrophones: A Feasibility Study

Over 1,100 participants at the 2015 CTBT: Science & Technology Conference: scientists, academics, diplomats and media representatives

Overview: Potential uses of IMS data for climate change monitoring

Infrasound	Radionuclide	Hydroacoustic	Seismic
Signals generated by the calving of icebergs and movements of glaciers	Increase understanding of the long-range exchange of pollutants through tracking the transport of air masses or validating atmospheric transport models	Research on the calving of icebergs and ice shelf break-up as indicators of warming at the ice shelves	Serving as an additional source for studying the melting of glaciers, whose size and movements can affect seismic signals
Microbaroms (very low-frequency sound waves generated in marine storms), hurricanes and tornadoes to assess the intensification of storm activity	Monitor the stratosphere/troposphere exchange and validate global climate models by using radionuclides as tracers	Improving weather prediction and estimates via the inference of ocean temperature	Study of the differences in wave travel time (acoustic impedance temporal variations) in the lower atmosphere using co-located seismic and infrasound stations
Signals generated by landslides and avalanches as indicators of climate change	Monitor seasonal and yearly variations of specific radionuclides which might be connected to climate variations	Support research on ocean processes and marine life, such as whale populations and migration patterns that might be affected by climate change
Specific sources along a fixed source-to-station path to determine seasonal and yearly variations of some atmospheric properties	Determine the quantity of dust and pollens present over a certain period of time as well as the evolution of chemical contents in dust	Measuring water temperature by means of ‘acoustic thermometry’

The CTBTO's own direct contribution

Along with other United Nations and international entities housed in the Vienna International Centre, and globally, the CTBTO seeks to minimise the environmental impact of its everyday operations. Measures adopted include offering a paperless conference document system for Member States' meetings, using renewable sources of energy and reducing travel.
The same care applies to building and operating IMS stations, which are increasingly equipped with solar panels. None of the stations produce emissions or waste, and local stations operators are contracted for routine service and maintenance.

Largely paperless: meetings of the CTBTO PrepCom and its subsidiary bodies.

Infrasound station IS49, Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean (UK)

Treading softly on Midway Island...

For the construction of radionuclide station RN78 on Midway Island in the Pacific Ocean (United States), an obsolete building was used to house the detection equipment in order to avoid major construction activity. Additionally, the air collecting system was fitted with special silencers and a safety net to minimize noise emissions and avoid injury to birds.

A net was placed on the inlet to prevent birds from entering the system - protection for bird and system alike.

The birds found the inlet of our system very warm and comfortable but this was causing serious problems for air sampling. We found a solution by placing a net to cover the inlet. It helps to protect both the system and the birds.

CTBTO engineer Barbara Nadalut

...in New Zealand...

Another example of the commitment of the CTBTO to sustainable building is the infrasound station IS36 within a protected conservation reserve on New Zealand’s Chatham Island. Special care was taken to prevent any damage to the forest. Wheel barrows replaced heavy machinery during the installation and some pipes of the infrasound arrays were bent around trees.

...in Patagonia...

Also in the southern hemisphere, at infrasound station IS02 at the southernmost tip of Argentina, the station’s communication setup had to be adjusted to respond to national requirements for environmentally protected areas. Instead of opting for radio communication with a number of radio towers, much less intrusive fibre optic cables were installed.

...and on Kiritimati Island.

But even when monitoring stations are not built in national parks or protected areas, special care is taken consistently to minimize the potential impact on the environment. Many stations are located in isolated areas and need an independent fuel supply to run them. At the radionuclide station RN39 on the Kiritimati Island in the Pacific, special diesel tanks were designed to prevent the possibility of leaks that could contaminate the shallow water table on the island.