Solomon Islands to get new seismic monitoring network

15 October 2018

Staff from GNS Science are in the Solomon Islands for the next month to help set up the country’s first geohazard monitoring network to provide real-time information on earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis.

“The development of a national seismic network will herald a new era in vigilance to earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions in the Solomon Islands, and reduce reliance on overseas agencies for hazard monitoring,” said project leader Dr Craig Miller of GNS Science.

The World Bank-funded project involves installing new permanent seismic monitoring equipment in six of the nine provinces, helping to set up a monitoring centre in the capital Honiara, and providing training on maintaining and operating the new gear. GNS Science will also work with local officials to develop interagency operating procedures and procedures for best practise operation of a geohazards observatory.

GNS Science will also provide expert guidance to enable the Solomon Islands to build and operate its own earthquake monitoring stations to further enhance the network once this phase of the deployment is complete.

This GNS Science work is part of a wider World Bank-funded project to increase the capacity of the Solomon Islands to manage natural hazards and climate change risks.

“As well as improving the monitoring of local earthquakes and assessment of their impacts, the new network will also enhance volcano and tsunami monitoring. It will also enable the Solomon Islands to both contribute to and receive seismic data from other countries in the Southwest Pacific,” Dr Miller said.

The seismic monitoring equipment was designed and assembled at GNS Science’s Wairakei facility and air freighted to the Solomon Islands.

Over the past 30 years the Solomon Islands, which is made up of six major islands and several hundred smaller islands, have experienced several disasters triggered by natural hazards, resulting in loss of life and severe economic impacts.

In recent years, GNS Science has assisted Vanuatu, Samoa, and Tonga in building their capacity to monitor and mitigate geological hazards.

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