The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) will organize a workshop aimed at advancing research and operational capabilities in infrasound monitoring.
- This initiative seeks to foster an international dialogue among scientists regarding infrasound technology, which plays a crucial role in monitoring nuclear tests.
About the Infrasound:
- Definition: Infrasound refers to sound waves with frequencies between 0.002 and 20 Hertz (Hz), which are below the range of human hearing.
- Detection: Microbarometers are used to measure the minute changes in atmospheric pressure caused by infrasound.
Sources of Infrasound
- Natural Sources:
- Earthquakes
- Volcanic eruptions
- Storms
- Auroras
- Nonnatural Sources:
- Mining operations
- Chemical explosions
- Nuclear explosions
Applications of Infrasound
- Nuclear Monitoring: Detecting distant nuclear explosions through the CTBTO’s IMS.
- Structural Health Monitoring: Assessing the integrity of buildings, dams, and bridges by detecting internal stresses and cracks.
- Aerospace: Analyzing low-frequency sounds during rocket launches to evaluate structural behavior and stability.
- Mining: Evaluating the safety of mine shafts and monitoring the effectiveness of dynamite blasts.
- Wildlife Tracking: Monitoring animal movements, such as those of whales, through infrasound.
About CTBTO
- Mandate: Tasked with developing the verification regime for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
- Founded in: 1996.
- India’s Status: India is not a signatory to the treaty.
CTBTO’s Role:
- Mandate: The primary goal of CTBTO is to encourage more countries to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which India has not signed.
- Technology Sharing: CTBTO develops technologies for monitoring nuclear tests and shares these with relevant industries.
- International Monitoring System (IMS):
- An extensive network of monitoring stations designed to detect nuclear explosions globally.
- Plans include establishing 60 array stations across 35 countries.
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Frequently Asked Question:
What is infrasound?
Infrasound refers to sound waves with frequencies between 0.002 and 20 Hz, below the range of human hearing.
How is infrasound detected?
Microbarometers detect infrasound by measuring small changes in atmospheric pressure.
What are the natural sources of infrasound?
Natural sources include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms, and auroras.
What is the role of CTBTO in nuclear monitoring?
CTBTO uses infrasound monitoring within its International Monitoring System (IMS) to detect nuclear explosions globally.
Why is India not involved in the CTBTO?
India has not signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which is overseen by the CTBTO.