On September 24, 1996, President Clinton signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty at the United Nations Headquarters. Over the next five months, 141 nations, including the four other nuclear weapon states—Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom—added their signatures to this total ban on nuclear explosions. To help achieve verification of compliance with its provisions, the treaty specifies an extensive International Monitoring System of seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasonic, and radionuclide sensors. This volume identifies specific research activities that will be needed if the United States is to effectively monitor compliance with the treaty provisions.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction: The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
2 CTBT Monitoring Technical Challenges That Drive Research
3 Monitoring Technologies: Research Priorities
4 U.S. Research Infrastructure
5 Conclusions and Recommendations
References
Appendix A: Statement of Task
Appendix B: Research Support History
Appendix C: Seismic Event Location
Appendix D: Seismic Magnitudes and Source Strengths
Appendix E: Hydroacoustics
Appendix F: Infrasonics
Appendix G: Radionuclide Source Term Ranges for Different Test Scenarios
Appendix H: Acronyms