CSIO OBSERVATORY FOR RESEARCH LEADING
TO EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION
The seismological
observatory of the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation
(CSIO), Chandigarh is being modernised and expanded to take up
research that may ultimately lead to prediction of earthquakes.
It will have facilities for the measurement of plate tectonic
movement with Geo-Positioning Systems (GPS), Radon level gravity
and changes in geo-magnetism. A group of scientists at the CSIO
is also currently working on Earthquake Alert Systems (EAS) and
instrumentation for rescue operations. All these will go a long
way in strengthening seismological research and help evolve a
system for forewarning earthquakes. The Minister for Science and
Technology Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi who just visited the observatory
said the CSIO, Chandigarh established the modern seismological
observatory with funding from the Department of Science and Technology
(DST)under the National Programme on Himalayan Seismicity,.
The observatory generates
very high-grade seismic data round the clock and is used for assessing
the seismic level in and around Chandigarh for societal and strategic
applications. The data is shared on regular basis with the other
user agencies i.e. India Meteorological Department, Wadiya Institute
of Himalayan Geology, Dehradoon, Roorkee University and the DST
for advanced seismological research. It has been provided with
advanced central data recording and processing system that will
receive field data from three seismic stations, being set up with
DST funding at Morni Hills, YPS University - Solan and Sundernagar,
forming a broad band seismic telemetry network.
