Nuclear Monitoring

Following a Government decision in 1984, Geoscience Australia actively engages in nuclear monitoring activities on behalf of the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office.
Geoscience Australia helps Australia fulfil its obligations under the CTBT by monitoring for nuclear explosions worldwide and by contributing to the development of the CTBT verification regime.
Geoscience Australia is currently responsible for the operation and maintenance of 10 of Australia's seismo-acoustic IMS facilities (six seismic stations, three infrasound stations and one hydroacoustic station). Additionally, Geoscience Australia is in the process of building the final infrasound station to complete Australia's seismo-acoustic IMS network. Construction of this station is expected to be completed within the next two years.
Geoscience Australia actively participates in international fora dedicated to technological advances supporting nuclear non-proliferation and verification, and to the use of IMS data for civil and scientific applications. The latter include tsunami-warning and the monitoring of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.