What is seismologys role in monitoring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)?
On September 10, 1996, the United Nations General Assembly voted 158-3 to approve a treaty prohibiting all nuclear tests. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty has been signed by 130 nations – including the United States. President Clinton signed the agreement on September 24, 1996. Seismology is one of several fields that play a role in monitoring the CTBT. Underground nuclear explosions produce seismic waves with unique characteristics which allow the discrimination between explosions and earthquakes.
