South Africa
Boshof
Geoscience for Diplomacy
Serves as a member of a global watchdog organisation which monitors the testing, explosion and development of nuclear devices
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) Projects
The CTBT is a cornerstone of the international regime on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. Its total ban of any nuclear weapon test explosions constrains the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and aims to end the development of advanced new weapons of this type. The Preparatory Commission of the international Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) was established by State signatories to the treaty on 19 November 1996. The CTBTO carries out the necessary preparations for the effective implementation of the treaty, and prepares for the annual sessions of the conference of the States who are party to the treaty. South Africa signed the treaty on 24 September 1996 and ratified it on 30 March 1999.
As testimony of its commitment to the goals of the CTBT, South Africa concluded “facilities agreements” with the CTBTO permitting the establishment, in terms of the treaty, international monitoring system stations within South Africa national territory at Boshof (primary seismic and infrasound stations), on Marion Island (radionuclide station), at Sutherland (auxiliary seismic station) and at the South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) base in Antarctica (auxiliary seismic station, jointly operated with Germany). South Africa also hosts one of the sixteen (16) CTBT radionuclide laboratories.
Central recording facility (CRF) showing the deployment of terrestrial communication systems and the commercial power supply, as sourced from South Africa’s power utility, ESKOM.
The main aim and objectives of these projects are to keep the CTBTO stations in South Africa operational and running at a minimum up time rate of 98%, as mandated by an agreement signed by the Council for Geoscience and the CTBTO. Data is sent to the CTBTO (IDC), the United States National Defense Corps (USNDC) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and is made available for seismological analysis in South African bulletins, as produced by the Council for Geoscience.
The significance of the involvement of the Council for Geoscience in these projects is that South Africa serves as a member of a global watchdog organisation which monitors the testing, explosion and development of nuclear devices that may be used for mass destruction. In this way, the Council for Geoscience is contributing to making the world a safer place for all to live in.
First infrasound element, with the weather station equipment shown at the surface.
