PROGRESS ON IMPLEMENTATION
Of the eleven IMS hydroacoustic stations, three stations existed prior to the Treaty. These are the two hydrophone stations at Wake Island (North Pacific Ocean) and Ascension Island (Mid Atlantic Ocean) and the T-phase station at Queen Charlotte Island (West coast of Canada). All of the other IMS hydroacoustic stations will be installed over the next few years, while upgrading action will be taken at the existing sites.
Prior to installation of a station, a site survey is undertaken in order to determine exactly where and how to install a station. Site surveys are now complete or underway at a number of stations, including Cape Leeuwin (Australia). Installation of stations is now underway at the hydrophone stations at Crozet Island (South-West Indian Ocean) and at Chagos Archipelago (North Indian Ocean) as well as the T-phase station at Guadeloupe (Caribbean). Work is planned to soon start on Clarion Island (West coast of Mexico), Juan Fernandez Island (Chile) and Flores Island (North Atlantic Ocean), with Tristan da Cunha (South Atlantic Ocean) to follow.
Certification of operation to CTBT standards will follow installation, leading to operation at a very high level of availability into the indefinite future. The data from all stations will be sent to the IDC in Vienna in real time, 24 hours per day every day of the year.
DISCUSSION
A description of the IMS hydroacoustic network has been presented, as well as the characteristics and specifications for the two types of stations: hydrophone and T-phase stations. The work in process and the future plans on the network implementation have been outlined. The data from all IMS stations will be sent to the IDC in Vienna in real time, 24 hours per day every day of the year. Although this network is being installed for monitoring of nuclear explosions, it can also be expected to provide a unique resource for scientific investigation of various ocean phenomena.
