CTBTO SpectrumCTBTO Spectrum CTBTO NEWSLETTER ISSUE 8 | JUNE 2006 Who we are IMS: The pioneering years The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear weapon test explosions. It opened In the early days of August 1997, I chaired the fi rst meeting of the initial International for signature in New York on 24 September Monitoring System (IMS) team. Some of our team members were seasoned veterans 1996 and enjoys worldwide support. from the Geneva negotiations, but most of us were completely new to the Treaty and to the world of multilateral diplomacy. Coming from nine countries and very different The CTBTO Preparatory Commission was backgrounds, we faced the daunting task of building the global IMS network of 321 established to carry out the necessary arrangements stations and 16 laboratories within three years. At that time it was thought that the Treaty for the implementation of the Treaty and to could get the number of ratifi cations needed for entry into force within three years, and prepare for the fi rst session of the Conference the monitoring system had to be ready by then. of the State Parties to the Treaty after its entry into force. It consists of all States Signatories Before coming to Vienna, many of us assumed that a complex and challenging and the Provisional Technical Secretariat. project like building the IMS would go through the normal phases of project development such as design, proof of concept, testing and implementation. The instructions from the governing bodies, however, made it very clear that the build up of the monitoring system Inside this issue had to start as rapidly as possible. Consequently, the IMS team initiated the construction of the stations according to the technical specifi cations approved by the Preparatory C OVER STORY: Commission for the CTBTO, while, at the same time, they had to develop many IMS: The pioneering years innovations, such as authentication and certifi cation procedures and incorporate them into by Gerardo Suárez ...... 1 the commercially available equipment in all verifi cation technologies. E DITORIAL ...... 2 M AP OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA, This build-as-you-design phase was characteristic of the early years. Contrary to T HE PACIFIC AND THE FAR EAST ...... 3 the optimism in Geneva, many stations of the 120 auxiliary seismic station network did N OTES AND QUOTES ...... 4 not exist or were abysmally below the technical specifi cations. The majority of those Ratifying the CTBT – a view from Viet Nam already in existence were built by international consortia for scientifi c purposes with the by Ambassador Nguyen Truong Giang ...... 5 support of local institutions. The IMS team had to forge numerous alliances and establish C OMMISSION UPDATE ...... 7 agreements with parent networks before being in a position to upgrade and connect these I N THE SPOTLIGHT: continued on page 6 Hon Phil Goff, Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control of New Zealand ...... 8 P ERSPECTIVES: Japan’s contribution to the CTBT by Ambassador Yukiya Amano ...... 10 V ERIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS ...... 12 P OTENTIAL CIVIL AND SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS ...... 20 V ERIFICATION SCIENCE ...... 22 O UTREACH ACTIVITIES ...... 24 S ECRETARIAT SNAPSHOTS Scientifi c symposium – CTBT: Synergies with Science, 1996-2006 and Beyond by Ola Dahlman ...... 26 TREATY STATUS ...... 28 C ALENDAR OF MEETINGS ...... 28 IMS STATIONS IN IDC OPERATIONS AS OF 31 MAY 2006 (184 STATIONS)

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 1 Editorial

2006 marks the e-training offers a range of possibilities Yukiya Amano of Japan looks at his 10th anniversary for deepening and broadening capacity country’s contribution to the Treaty. The of the opening for building. In this context, the Provisional Ambassador of Vietnam, H.E. Nguyen signature of the Technical Secretariat (PTS) is developing Truong Giang, gives his personal view Comprehensive a global e-learning project that will on Viet Nam’s decision to ratify the Nuclear-Test- provide electronic, interactive access to CTBT as the 34th Annex 2 State. Ban Treaty training courses and technical workshops (CTBT). Almost for authorised users. The European The cover article, by Gerardo ten years after Union is supporting this initiative Suárez, Director of the International its conclusion, with more than 1.1 million Euros. Monitoring System (IMS) Division, the CTBT is close to universalization, describes the pioneering years of with 176 States Signatories and 134 The question of capacity building building the IMS network. With over ratifi ers, the latest being Viet Nam. in order to maintain and develop a 50% of the IMS stations certifi ed, Mr Although the Treaty has not yet global Treaty regime is not only crucial Suárez, who will separate from the PTS entered into force, it has proven its for Member States but also for the at the end of July, leaves behind a legacy signifi cance by contributing to the interaction between the worldwide of which he can be very proud. I would establishment of an international scientifi c community, the Commission and like to use this opportunity to express norm against nuclear testing. the States Signatories. For this reason my heartfelt gratitude for his work. and to celebrate the achievements of The build-up of a functioning the Commission, the PTS is organizing Some of the unique challenges verifi cation regime which needs to be in a scientifi c symposium which will be IMS staff members may encounter place when the Treaty enters into force held on 31 August and 1 September in when building new stations can be is progressing in a dynamic manner. Vienna. The symposium will provide best appreciated when reading the A further fi ve facilities were certifi ed a forum for the exchange of ideas ‘Verifi cation Highlights’ article on since the end of last year, bringing the between the verifi cation community establishing infrasound station IS39 total number of certifi ed stations and and the wider scientifi c community in Palau. It shows how demanding the laboratories to 161 and six, respectively. with the aim to increase global work of PTS staff members can be. The growing momentum in station capacity in the fi elds of science and installation and the considerable increase technology related to the activities of in data traffi c over the last two years the Commission. It will also provide – the latter has almost tripled in volume latest information on the multi-faceted from fi ve to 14 gigabytes per day – means benefi ts of verifi cation technologies and that more and more Member States are International Data Centre (IDC) data. receiving verifi cation data and products on a test basis. Currently, approximately Besides providing an outlook on the 700 end users in 90 countries are scientifi c symposium by Ola Dahlman, participating in the provisional former Working Group B Chairman, operation of the verifi cation regime. this issue of CTBTO Spectrum looks Tibor Tóth at the many interactions between the Executive Secretary Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive In order to make optimum use of South-East Asia, the Pacifi c and the Far Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization these data, States Signatories are invited East (SEAPFE) region and the CTBT. to participate in the capacity building The PTS is particularly honoured to activities of the CTBTO Preparatory publish an interview with the Minister Commission and its Secretariat with of Disarmament and Arms Control of the aim to fulfi l their verifi cation New Zealand, Hon Phil Goff, focusing, responsibilities under the CTBT and inter alia, on the eminent role of New to fully realize the potential benefi ts Zealand in nuclear disarmament and deriving from the Treaty. In addition non-proliferation. Furthermore, a to the traditional training methods, special feature article by Ambassador

PAGE 2 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG South-East Asia, the Pacifi c and the Far East (SEAPFE)

IMS facilities as defi ned by the Treaty

Status of signatures and ratifi cations

Signatory States Ratifying States Non-Signatory States Total SEAPFE States: 32 27 17 5 Annex 2 SEAPFE States: 7 6 4 1

AS OF 17 JULY 2006

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 3 Notes & quotes

South-East Asia, the Pacifi c and the Facility Agreements with Far East and the CTBT States in the SEAPFE regions

Since its inception, the Comprehensive Of these, all except one have signed Under the CTBT, States hosting or other- Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has the Treaty, but only four have ratified wise taking responsibility for facilities enjoyed strong support from States it. The sole nuclear weapon State in of the International Monitoring System of the South-East Asia, the Pacific the region, China, has given positive (IMS) shall conclude international agree- and the Far East region (SEAPFE)1. A signs regarding future ratification. ments and arrangements known as facility State of this region, Fiji, was the first agreements which regulate matters such to deposit its instrument of ratification States from the SEAPFE region as the establishment, upgrading, testing, of the Treaty on 10 October 1996, have frequently been elected to certifi cation and operation and maintenance a little over two weeks after it was representative functions in the CTBTO of monitoring facilities as well as the privi- opened for signature. Since then, Preparatory Commission. Japan (in leges and immunities of the Organization 27 States out of the 32 in the region 2001) and Australia (in 2005) presided and its staff. have signed the Treaty and become over the Conference on Facilitating the members of the CTBTO Preparatory Entry into Force of the CTBT (Article The SEAPFE region comprises 32 Commission. Seventeen SEAPFE XIV Conference) which is convened States, six of which have concluded facility States have ratified it. The recent regularly to decide on measures to agreements with the Commission. All six ratification by Viet Nam, which is one accelerate the ratification process. agreements have entered into force and of the 44 States whose ratification is The CTBTO Preparatory Commission include those with Australia (2000), the required for the Treaty’s entry into was chaired by representatives from Cook Islands (2000), Mongolia (2001), force, highlights the continuing support the region on three occasions: By the New Zealand (2000), Palau (2000) and the the Treaty enjoys in the region. Republic of Korea in 1999, Indonesia Philippines (2004). Of the six geographical in 2001 and Japan in 2004. regions stipulated in the CTBT, the SEAPFE States have a SEAPFE region hosts the second highest distinguished record in the field Since 2000, SEAPFE States have number of IMS facilities. Under the moni- of nuclear disarmament and non- hosted several regional and sub-regional toring regime provided for by the CTBT, proliferation. The Treaty of Rarotonga workshops and a seminar, sponsored a total of 78 facilities will be established (1985) established a nuclear weapon by the Preparatory Commission to raise in Australia, China, the Cook Islands, free zone in the Southern Pacific. In awareness of the Treaty and promote Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, addition, Mongolia adopted legislation its signature and ratification, namely Mongolia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua on its nuclear weapon free status in in Beijing (2000), Wellington (2001), New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic 2000. As a result, 14 States of the region Nadi (2003), Kuala Lumpur (2003 and of Korea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and adhere to regimes that complement 2006) and Seoul (2005). In order to Thailand. Thirty-nine of these facilities the global test ban of the CTBT by further international cooperation between have already been certifi ed. prohibiting the testing of any nuclear States in the region and the Preparatory explosive device. The large membership Commission, the Commission seeks The SEAPFE region sets a good in these regimes is an encouraging to strengthen its relations with the example in ensuring that monitoring indication of further support the CTBT Association of South-East Asian Nations stations are governed by the necessary legal can expect from the SEAPFE States. (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum. framework. All countries in the SEAPFE region hosting monitoring stations have, The importance of the SEAPFE The benefit of the Treaty for the with one exception, either concluded a region for achieving universality of region goes beyond fostering international facility agreement or an interim exchange the Treaty is underlined by a number cooperation and peace. The Commission of letters governing the conduct of of factors. Seven out of the 44 States promotes technical capacity building activities at their respective stations. The mentioned in Annex 2 to the Treaty, and exchange of information among its latest entry into force of the agreement whose ratification is a condition for Member States and provides relevant with the Philippines in 2004 marked a its entry into force, are located there. training. Moreover, the tsunami of further important step in establishing the December 2004 has demonstrated the framework regulating the Commission’s potential benefits of civil and scientific activities in the region. Negotiations for the

1 SEAPFE is one of the six geographical regions foreseen by Article II, applications which the region may obtain conclusion of further facility agreements in paragraph 28 of the CTBT for the purpose of electing members of the Executive Council of the CTBTO once the Treaty enters into force. from participating in the Treaty regime. ■ the SEAPFE region are in progress. ■

PAGE 4 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG Ratifying the CTBT – a view from Viet Nam By Ambassador Nguyen Truong Giang

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test- this decision, Viet Nam has become the facilitating the exchange of experiences Ban-Treaty (CTBT) is one of the thirty-fourth Annex 2 State to ratify the through consultation, disseminating pillars of the international regime Treaty. relevant information and documentation in on the non-proliferation of nuclear respect of the ratification process and the weapons. Once entered into force, it will Convinced of the importance of implementation measures, and encouraging constitute a solid legal basis to prevent achieving universal adherence to the CTBT, cooperation with non-governmental nuclear explosions, thus contributing Viet Nam joins all others to call on those organizations to raise awareness of the to the prevention of developing more States, which have not yet ratified the importance of the Treaty and the need for its advanced and more lethal types of Treaty, to do so soon. Viet Nam confirms its early entry into force. nuclear weapons. In such ways, the support for the commitments and concerted Treaty reinforces efforts towards nuclear efforts of the international community For its part, Viet Nam will continue to disarmament and non-proliferation towards achieving universal adherence to work hard with all other countries to enable which in turn helps enhance international the Treaty at an early date. It commends the the CTBT to achieve universal adherence, peace and security. efforts of the Preparatory Commission for thus contributing further to the strengthening the Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty Organization of world peace and security. ■ Viet Nam considers nuclear (CTBTO) in promoting the universality disarmament and non-proliferation as the of the Treaty and the establishment of an key approach to free the world of nuclear effective verification regime designed to Biographical note weapons and provide for a comprehensive monitor compliance with the Treaty when and complete ban of all nuclear test it enters into force. In this regard, Viet Nam Ambassador explosions and other types of tests supports and encourages bilateral, regional Nguyen Truong designed to develop and upgrade nuclear and multilateral initiatives, including the Giang, Permanent weapons. Proceeding from this consistent organization of workshops and seminars to Representative position, Viet Nam fully supports the promote the entry into force of the Treaty. of the Socialist objectives and purposes of the CTBT. Republic of In December 2003, Viet Nam and the Viet Nam to Viet Nam was one of the first Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) co- Austria, Slovakia, countries to sign the Treaty when it opened organized, with the assistance of Norway, Croatia and the for signature on 26 September 1996 in a national workshop on the CTBT in Viet International New York. It ratified the Treaty on 23 Nam, which played an important role in Organizations in Vienna, joined the February 2006 and deposited its instrument promoting the ratification process. We also diplomatic service in 1980. of ratification with the United Nations encourage the PTS to continue its efforts Secretary-General on 10 March 2006. With in providing States with legal assistance, After completing the School of Diplomacy in Hanoi, he worked several years as a specialist in the Department “ Explanations by the nuclear-haves of International Law and Treaties at the that the weapons are indispensable to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, between 1998 defend their sovereignty are not the and 2003 as a Deputy Director. He also best way to convince other sovereign served as Third Secretary at his country’s states to renounce the option. The single Permanent Mission to the United Nations most hopeful step to revitalize non- in New York. proliferation and disarmament today would be ratification of the CTBT by all Ambassador Nguyen Truong Giang states that have nuclear weapons.” has completed a postgraduate research programme at the Institute of Social Final report of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Studies in the Netherlands and holds a Commission, ‘Weapons of Terror: Freeing the Master of Art from the Carleton University World of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Arms’, in Canada. He published extensively in the Stockholm, Sweden, 1 June 2006, page 61 fi eld of international law. ■

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 5 IMS: The pioneering years continued from cover page

stations to meet the stringent specifi cations The noble gas network was the only programmes for every regional group, select of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban one to follow the classical path of design, and purchase equipment, and implement Treaty (CTBT). test and implementation. Considering that an ambitious site survey programme as the no instrument was commercially available to foundation of our work. The instructions In the hydroacoustic technology, meet the CTBT specifi cations, an International of the governing bodies were to fi nalize the IMS team worked on improving the Noble Gas Experiment (INGE) was set up to the largest number of site surveys possible placement of the three sensors described develop the instruments. With the support of in order to be prepared for an accelerated in the technical specifi cations. The fi nal many institutions, four noble gas systems are implementation programme when the Treaty endorsement by the governing bodies to place now being tested at various IMS stations. (See approached entry into force. The challenges the three sensors in a triangular array has article on page 22). confronting the IMS were replicated in every shown its benefi t in the ability to identify with Division of the PTS: Everything had to be an accuracy of only a few degrees the location We soon learned that the diffi culties of done from scratch and it had to be done fast. of sources of the detected acoustic waves. establishing the IMS network were not purely technical or logistical. The political nature of It would be diffi cult and perhaps even It was probably the infrasound such an endeavour needed to be taken into unfair to single out institutions and countries technology that required the longest design consideration. In order to move forward with that helped us in those frantic and hectic phase. Infrasound technology had been the build-up of the network, the IMS started days. The IMS has benefi ted throughout dormant for many years and experts in the establishing informal contacts with Working these past nine years from the very generous fi eld could be counted on the fi ngers of one Group B delegates to initiate site surveys support and collaboration of hundreds of hand. In the early IMS days, many questions and start the construction of IMS stations in institutions, both technical and political, all existed regarding the number of elements their countries. The Preparatory Commission over the world. Based on these partnerships, and the best geometry of an infrasound array. requested the Provisional Technical Secretariat a monitoring network has been built and Thanks to the collaboration of many research to sign facility agreements with all host countries the IMS was able to lay the foundations of institutions and with the experience of having of IMS stations, a very time-consuming process its operation and maintenance concept. built the fi rst stations, the current design of that normally requires parliamentary approval. a seven to eight-element station with pipe The pace and expectations for the arrays to reduce incoherent noise was agreed To alleviate the problem, the IMS completion of the IMS were gradually to as being the most appropriate design began sending letters to some host countries tempered by political reality. Nonetheless, needed for the diffi cult task of identifying and requesting that they allow the installation of after nine years, Member States have a interpreting atmospheric acoustic events stations pending the signature of the facility fully functioning International Data Centre agreement in the future. This practice was later that is receiving and processing data from The global radionuclide network was formally accepted by the Commission and over 180 stations. One half of the IMS also the fi rst one ever installed. Equipment the IMS added to its tasks the procurement stations are certifi ed and approximately that traditionally had operated under of letters that would authorize the build-up of 85% of them are either certifi ed, under laboratory conditions had to be designed to stations while the facility agreement was still testing or under construction. Plans are survive and operate in remote and isolated being negotiated. The result of an exchange of still fi rm for the completion of about 90% locations where technical expertise is scarce. letters or the signature of a facility agreement of the network by the end of 2007. Software and hardware had to be adapted or was anxiously awaited in Vienna. Conse- developed to conform to CTBT specifi cations. quently, the IMS was unable to formulate an I believe that I can speak for most of A particularly diffi cult challenge was to design implementation plan with clearly defi ned goals. my colleagues when I say that we in the procedures for sending sensitive samples to Stations could only be built at sites for which IMS have a proud sense of accomplishment. radionuclide laboratories. we had an exchange of letters or a facility The build-up of the IMS network, perhaps agreement. one of the more ambitious projects ever to From the outset, the training of operators monitor the earth, is now a reality. I can only has been one of the backbones of the IMS. The In those early days the tasks and hope that States Signatories also share this need for well trained operators is particularly challenges seemed to be endless. We had to sense of pride in a project that they have so crucial to the radionuclide stations, since the build stations using a rapidly growing budget, generously supported and fi nanced. ■ radionuclide equipment requires the most negotiate exchanges of letters, hire staff at

knowledgeable and numerous operational staff. a breakneck pace, organize initial training GERARDO SUÁREZ, IMS DIRECTOR

PAGE 6 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG Commission update

Report on the June 2006 session Profi le of the Chairperson of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission

The Preparatory Commission for the The Executive Secretary reported also Mr Volodymyr Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty on governance issues, restructuring of the PTS, Yel’chenko, Organization (CTBTO) held its Twenty-Sixth and human resources issues. He pointed out Ambassador of Session from 20 to 23 June 2006 in Vienna that the triple challenge of service limitation, Ukraine to Austria under the chairmanship of Ambassador restructuring and completing the build-up of the and Permanent Volodymyr Yel’chenko of Ukraine. Eighty-fi ve IMS network over the next two years created Representative to Member States participated in the session. The higher than usual levels of stress for PTS staff the International League of Arab States attended as an observer. members. In addition, Mr Tóth informed about Organizations in the scientifi c symposium to be held on 31 August Vienna, is serving The report of the and 1 September this year in Vienna, and about as Chairman of the Executive Secretary outreach efforts, training and the appointments of CTBTO Preparatory Commission for 2006. the new IMS Director and Chief of Internal Audit. Mr Tibor Tóth, Executive Secretary of the Ambassador Yelchenko studied CTBTO Preparatory Commission, reported Plenary debate and conclusions International Relations and International on the 2005 budget implementation, pointing Law at the Kyiv State University. He out that the Provisional Technical Secretariat The plenary debate focused, inter alia, on joined the diplomatic service in 1981 and (PTS) achieved a 5% increase in the overall budgetary issues, participation of experts from served in various positions in the Ministry budget implementation rate for 2005 developing countries in Working Group B of Foreign Affairs and abroad, including as compared to 2004. He also addressed the meetings, the restructuring of the PTS and the Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission status of the 2006 budget implementation and seven year service limit. of Ukraine to the United Nations in New the proposals for the 2007 programme and York (1986-1992), and as Director of the budget which represent an overall decrease of Member States welcomed the ratifi cation Department of International Organizations US$ 150 000 compared to the 2006 budget. of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (1995-1997) at the Ministry. Between (CTBT) by Antigua and Barbuda, Cameroon, 1997 and 2000, Mr Yelchenko served The Executive Secretary expressed his Cape Verde, Haiti, Suriname and Zambia since his country as Permanent Representative concern about outstanding assessed contribu- the last session of the Preparatory Commission. to the United Nations in New York, tions, stating that if the current trend continues States Signatories particularly welcomed the representing Ukraine in the Security a provisional cash defi cit of about US$ 11 ratifi cation of Viet Nam, an Annex 2 State. Council in 2000 and 2001. In March 2001, million can be expected by the PTS at the end he was President of the Security Council. of the year. As of 13 June 2006, the collec- States Signatories expressed appreciation for tion rates of assessed contributions for 2006 the capacity building, outreach and international His assignment in New York was amounted to 67,8% of the US$ portion and cooperation activities undertaken by the PTS as well followed by a number of high-ranking 65,5% of the € portion. This is lower than at the as for voluntary contributions from the European positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs same time last year, when they stood at 79% of Union, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands to such as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs the US$ portion and 73,6 % of the € portion. support capacity building through e-training. (2000-2001), Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (2001-2003), Secretary Despite the diffi cult fi nancial situa- Member States welcomed the plans for of State for Foreign Affairs (March-May tion, the PTS made substantial progress in the scientifi c symposium and expressed their 2003) and First Deputy Minister of Foreign the establishment of the Treaty verifi cation appreciation for the support of the event by Affairs (May 2003-February 2005). regime. In 2005, the Capital Investment Fund Austria and the voluntary contribution by (CIF) implementation rate increased by 27% Hungary for an expert group meeting on civil From May 2004 to April 2005, as compared to 2004. Since the beginning of and scientifi c applications of the CTBT to be Mr Yelchenko chaired the National 2006, fi ve additional International Monitoring held in Budapest shortly after the symposium. Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO System (IMS) stations were certifi ed, bringing and also worked as a Member of the the total number of certifi ed IMS facilities to The PTS was asked to prepare an UNESCO Executive Board. He took up his 167 out of 337. By connecting eleven new options paper on a possible contribution of present post in Vienna in April 2005. ■ IMS stations to International Data Centre the Commission to tsunami warning systems (IDC) operations, the number of stations in and to continue efforts to build National Data IDC operations reached the 50% mark. Centre capacities in developing countries. ■

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 7 In the spotlight

Hon Phil Goff, Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control of New Zealand

Q: New Zealand is a small country, yet Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1999 a human weakness but for the fi rst time it has been able to exert infl uence and win further signalled our commitment to the mankind had the potential to destroy itself. respect for the role it plays in promoting end of nuclear weapon testing as part of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament our longstanding and active efforts to see Our own region, the Asia-Pacifi c, was in the world. As Prime Minister Rt Hon the total elimination of nuclear weapons. In a major testing zone for the nuclear weapon Helen Clark vividly expressed it: “New 1987, the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone States and more signifi cantly, is the only Zealand’s goal is to see the complete, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987 region which has experienced the use of verifi able, and irreversible elimination established in New Zealand a nuclear free nuclear weapons. Hiroshima and Nagasaki of weapons of mass destruction. This is zone and also implemented in New Zealand continue to be symbols of determination to a deeply held, long term and consistent the South Pacifi c Nuclear Free Zone (the prevent the human suffering, loss of life and foreign policy priority.” 1 Treaty of Rarotonga). massive destruction from the use of nuclear weapons. That must never happen again. How did New Zealand’s stance on nuclear disarmament The history of nuclear develop historically? testing in our region, the Pacifi c, “The entire international brought the cold reality of nuclear A: New Zealand has had a weapons close to our shores. long and consistent history of community stands to benefit The irreparable damage caused speaking out strongly against from full endorsement of by nuclear explosions can be nuclear weapons and nuclear catastrophic for any country but testing. In 1958, at the United an international regime especially for small island States. Nations, we called for the that has as its fundamental Nuclear testing in our region negotiation of a multilateral served to highlight the fragility treaty to ban nuclear testing obligation the prohibition of of communities in the South and in 1963 New Zealand was nuclear weapons testing.” Pacifi c that rely heavily on the among the fi rst signatories of the environment for their economic Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. livelihoods. This strengthened our resolve to work for progress From the 1960s to towards nuclear disarmament. The actions we have taken the 1980s, New Zealand advocated internationally and domestically refl ect strongly against nuclear testing in the The total elimination of nuclear the high level of public and broad political Pacifi c including taking this up with the weapons represents the ultimate goal for support that our long-standing anti-nuclear International Court of Justice (ICJ) when we New Zealand. New Zealand’s priority has stance continues to enjoy. sought an end to atmospheric testing in 1973. always been and remains, a nuclear weapons We also welcomed the ICJ’s advisory opinion free world. New Zealand will continue to The United Nations Secretary-General, that the threat or use of nuclear weapons Q: speak out against nuclear weapons, seeking Kofi Annan, once called the New Zealanders was generally illegal, and that there exists an an end to their development, testing and use ‘model international citizens’. obligation “to pursue in good faith, and to under any circumstances. bring to a conclusion, negotiations leading to What is the driving force behind nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under New Zealand was, together with New Zealand’s engagement in nuclear Q: strict and effective international control”. Australia, instrumental in proposing and disarmament? setting up a nuclear weapon free zone in the New Zealand was one of the fi rst South Pacifi c, encompassing Australia, New The main driving force behind countries to sign and ratify the Nuclear Non- A: Zealand and the Pacifi c Island countries New Zealand’s engagement in nuclear Proliferation Treaty on 1 June 1968. New south of the equator, also called the disarmament was the knowledge of the Zealand’s ratifi cation of the Comprehensive Rarotonga Treaty. catastrophic consequences of the use of nuclear weapons. Confl ict has always been How did the Treaty so far contribute 1 The Prime Minister’s address to the Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament, 8 December 2004 to regional security? What other regional

PAGE 8 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG initiatives is New Zealand envisaging to on nuclear explosions in force under legitimacy of nuclear weapons testing further the nuclear disarmament cause? international law.” and development.

A: New Zealand remains committed What regional and global measures has The build up of the International to working with like-minded countries, New Zealand undertaken to encourage other Monitoring System (IMS) has real value in including as part of the New Agenda States to sign and/or ratify the Treaty? supporting global stability. IMS technologies Coalition, for a world free of nuclear also have civil applications and, for example, weapons. This includes pressing for A: New Zealand remains fully committed might contribute to a tsunami warning system. greater progress on commitments made to encouraging the universalisation of the The Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation CTBT. For New Zealand it is important is doing good work in this regard but we can Treaty, in particular the unequivocal that we back our political support for the not afford to be complacent. Maintaining undertaking on nuclear disarmament given Treaty by assisting the CTBT in its efforts its momentum is a key priority for New by the nuclear weapon States, encouraging to encourage States that have not yet done Zealand. Only upon entry into force will this universalisation of the CTBT, particularly so to ratify the Treaty. Our emphasis has Treaty and its global verification regime be by Annex 2 States, and promoting the typically been on our own region, the fully operational. A fully operational CTBT establishment of the Southern Hemisphere Pacifi c, although where appropriate we have would be the first line of defence against Nuclear Weapons Free Zone. made bilateral representations encouraging nuclear testing, and, as such, a fundamental those countries that have not done so to contribution towards nuclear disarmament.■ The widespread support for the South ratify the CTBT. While ratifi cation by Pacifi c Nuclear Free Zone demonstrates Annex 2 States is a requirement for the how countries can further the nuclear Treaty ultimately entering into force, disarmament cause within regions. all ratifi cations are important and add to the universality of the Treaty. Biographical note From a global perspective all nuclear weapon free zones are complementary In the United Nations General and mutually reinforcing of each other. Assembly New Zealand continues to play a Since fi rst entering All are united in their renunciation of lead role along with Mexico and Australia parliament in nuclear weapons. Such zones represent in coordinating an annual CTBT resolution 1981, Phil Goff a fundamental reaffi rmation of regional which has achieved near consensus has held numerous solidarity against nuclear weapons and we support. In addition, as part of a group portfolios support proposals for the establishment of ten countries based in Vienna (G10), including Foreign of new nuclear weapon free zones in New Zealand co-authored a paper on the Affairs and Trade, Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle CTBT at the NPT Review Conference Justice, Education East. New Zealand also works with last year. This paper noted that the CTBT and Housing. Brazil on an annual resolution at the “constitutes an effective measure of nuclear United Nations General Assembly to disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation During the period 1990 to 1993, promote an initiative to create a Southern in all its aspects and is vital to the NPT”. he lectured in Political Studies at Hemisphere free of nuclear weapons. the Auckland Institute of Studies and Q: In your view, what are the main benefi ts undertook a Foreign and Commonwealth Q: New Zealand hosts seven of joining the CTBT? Offi ce Scholarship to Nuffi eld College, International Monitoring System stations University of Oxford in 1992. and has been a strong supporter of the A: The entire international CTBT. This was also expressed in a press community stands to benefit from full His interest and experience in inter- release of March this year by your Offi ce endorsement of an international regime national affairs sees him currently hold the on the occasion of Viet Nam’s ratifi cation that has as its fundamental obligation the portfolios of Minister of Trade, Minister of of the Treaty: “The entry into force of the prohibition of nuclear weapons testing. Defence, Minister for Trade Negotiations, CTBT is a priority for New Zealand. … Although the CTBT has yet to enter Minister of Pacifi c Island Affairs, Minister Viet Nam’s ratifi cation has now brought into force, the near universality of the for Disarmament and Arms Control us one step closer to having the ban CTBT sends a strong signal about the and Associate Minister of Finance. ■

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 9 Perspectives

Japan’s contribution to the CTBT By Ambassador Yukiya Amano

Following World War II, Japan made nuclear non-proliferation, and the defi ning the technology required to detect disarmament and non-proliferation one peaceful use of nuclear energy. Given underground nuclear testing. of the major items on its foreign policy the symbolic signifi cance of the CTBT agenda. The Comprehensive Nuclear- for nuclear disarmament in general, the When fi nally in 1993 countries Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in particular has wider the support for it is, the greater the agreed to start negotiations, Yoshitomo a special signifi cance for Japan and the confi dence in the NPT, thereby leading to Tanaka, Ambassador of Japan to the Japanese people, and it is the fervent wish a strengthening of international security. Conference on Disarmament, chaired the of the Japanese to see its entry into force. Ad Hoc Committee on a Nuclear Test Ban This sentiment derives from reactions to Japan has consistently made it and played an important part in working the tragedies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki a priority to support the conclusion to reach an agreement on its mandate. in 1945, as well as an incident involving the exposure of a I, personally, Japanese fi shing boat and its participated in negotiations crew to radioactive fallout “Japan has consistently made from 1994 to 1997 while from a U.S. hydrogen bomb fulfi lling my assignment at test at Bikini Atoll in 1954. it a priority to support the the Delegation of Japan to the conclusion and entry into Conference on Disarmament CTBT and Japan in Geneva. Japan opposed force of the CTBT because the authorisation of low yield Japan’s support of the of its importance to Japan tests and nuclear explosions CTBT also stems from its for peaceful purposes and consideration for ensuring and the world as a whole.” this was refl ected in the national security. Northeast fi nal version of the Treaty. Asia is one of the most unstable regions in the world. Japan itself and entry into force of the CTBT Dr. Suyehiro also played an is surrounded by countries with nuclear because of its importance to Japan important role in the development of the weapons, namely, China, Russia and and the world as a whole. When Japan IMS network. the USA; and, last year, the Democratic joined the United Nations (UN) in People’s Republic of Korea publicly 1956, the Foreign Minister, Mamoru What I regret most to this day announced its possession of nuclear Shigemitsu, called for the early are the specifi c conditions set forth in weapons. It should be stressed that any conclusion of the CTBT in his fi rst the Treaty’s ‘entry into force’ clause. form of nuclear testing conducted by a speech made to the General Assembly. Japan proposed a simple majority of country would severely damage efforts to ratifi cations and was opposed to Article deter nuclear testing in general, thereby CTBT negotiations XIV as it stands today. At the fi nal stage undermining security. of negotiations, the late Foreign Minister, When negotiations for the Treaty did Yukihiko Ikeda, came to Geneva in an The CTBT is also important not start due to a lack of support from attempt to persuade countries to relax for international security. The Treaty major countries, the late Dr Shigeji the conditions required for entry into on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Suyehiro, Director-General of the force of the Treaty, but the present Weapons (NPT) is the central pillar of Japan Meteorological Agency, played formula was ultimately preserved. the nuclear non-proliferation regime a key role in the work of the Group of and one of the important cornerstones Scientifi c Experts, which was formed in Japan’s contribution underpinning global security. For it to 1976 to prepare the ground for CTBT to the CTBT function successfully, confi dence needs negotiations. As a country located in to be maintained and strengthened in an earthquake-prone zone, Japan’s Japan’s contribution to the CTBT since its three pillars: nuclear disarmament, knowledge and experience were useful in it was adopted by the UN General

PAGE 10 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG Assembly in 1996 can be divided into technical, and political contributions ratifi cation by as many countries as three areas: the Preparatory Commission’s to the CTBT. However, the good news possible and work for the early completion activities, the promotion of the entry is that many highly qualifi ed Japanese of the CTBT verifi cation regime. ■ into force of the Treaty, and civil and are currently applying for posts in the scientifi c application. Ever since the PTS and I feel sure they will join the Preparatory Commission was established Organization in the near future and Biographical note in November 1996, Japan has contributed make a valuable contribution to the about 20% of its total annual budget, CTBTO Preparatory Commission. and we are now the de facto largest Mr Yukiya Amano contributor to the Commission. Importance of the CTBT is Ambassador and its entry into force Extraordinary As part of our efforts to support the and Plenipoten- build-up of the verifi cation regime, Japan Looking ahead, there seems little prospect tiary and Resident has been offering training courses on of the CTBT coming into force in the Representative seismological observation to experts from near future, bearing in mind the strict of Japan to the developing countries since 1995. In 2003, conditions set forth in the Treaty. In fact, International Japan hosted the Ninth On-Site Inspection ten of the 44 countries required to ratify Organizations Workshop in Hiroshima. before the Treaty can come into force in Vienna. He have still not done so. Nevertheless, as of is currently the We have chaired, and actively 17 July 2006, 176 countries have signed chairperson of the Board of Governors of participated in, Article XIV Conferences and 134 have ratifi ed. This fact carries a the International Atomic Energy Agency. and have co-organized CTBT Ministerial politically and morally signifi cant weight. meetings in order to promote the early Furthermore, 60% of IMS stations are now Mr Amano joined the diplomatic entry into force of the Treaty. In addition, transmitting data to the IDC allowing us service in 1972 and has held we have used every opportunity in our to detect nuclear tests with a considerably increasingly senior positions, including bilateral consultations with countries high degree of certainty. All of these Director of the Science Division, concerned to encourage ratifi cation. factors considered, conducting nuclear Director of the Nuclear Energy tests has now become politically and Division, and Director-General of the Japan is an active supporter of the morally very diffi cult despite the fact that Disarmament, Non-proliferation and use of CTBT verifi cation technologies, the CTBT has as yet not come into force. Science Department. He has also held including the provision of IMS academic posts at the Japan Institute of seismic data for use in tsunami early It is regrettable that India and International Affairs, the Weatherhead warning systems. Although civil and Pakistan conducted eleven nuclear tests Center for International Affairs at scientifi c applications are not one of in 1998, but since then no further tests Harvard University, the Monterey the Treaty’s prime objectives, it would have been carried out. The fi ve nuclear Institute of International Studies, and be excellent if CTBT technologies powers as well as India and Pakistan have Sophia University. could be used to save lives, thanks to all declared a moratorium on nuclear the fl exibility of Member States. testing. This is a clear indication of Mr Amano participated in negotia- progress brought about by the CTBT, tions such as the NPT Review and Exten- On a separate issue, it is surprising especially when one considers that sion, the CTBT, the BTWC verifi cation to note that there are only four more than 2,000 tests were conducted protocol, and the amendment of CCW. Japanese staff members working for before the adoption of the Treaty. He represented Japan as a Govern- the Provisional Technical Secretariat mental Expert on the UN Panel on (PTS), 2.29% of the total staff. This In conclusion, what we, as supporters Missiles in 2001 and in the UN Expert extremely low percentage is unfortunate of the CTBT, can and should do for the Group on Disarmament and Non-prolif- in view of Japan’s considerable fi nancial, moment is to encourage signature and eration Education in the same year. ■

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 11 Verifi cation highlights

Challenges of establishing infrasound station IS39 in Palau

The main activity of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission is the establishment of a global verifi cation regime, capable of detecting nuclear explosions underground, underwater and in the atmosphere. As defi ned in the Treaty, this regime consists of an International Monitoring System supported by an International Data Centre, consultation and clarifi cation mechanisms, on-site inspections and confi dence-building measures, all of which must be operational at the Treaty’s entry into force.

PALAUAN WORKERS CONSTRUCTING THE REPEATER SITE OF INFRASOUND STATION IS39, PALAU

IMS network status When establishing International Monitoring process was fi lled with challenges that System (IMS) stations, staff members of are specifi c to the social, political and The establishment of the International the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) environmental contexts of Palau. Monitoring System (IMS) network has are not only confronted with logistical and continued in all four technologies – seismic, engineering hurdles, but need to handle The Republic of Palau is located hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide. carefully the political, social and cultural about 800 kilometres east of the Philippines The complete network includes 321 stations sensitivities in the host country. and 800 kilometres north of Papua New and 16 laboratories in 89 countries. Guinea in the North Pacifi c Ocean. It A particularly good example of this consists of over 200 islands, of which only As of 1 January 2006, 156 stations multi-faceted approach to IMS station nine are continuously inhabited. The Palau have been certifi ed, including six building is infrasound station IS39 in Palau. archipelago stretches almost 650 kilometres radionuclide laboratories, 63 stations From the political negotiations to obtain in a north-south direction with a total land were installed and substantially met permission to use land for IMS station area of nearly 460 square kilometres and an specifi cations. In addition, 62 stations purposes in 2001 through identifying suitable exclusive economic zone of 600,900 square were either already under construction sites for the infrasound arrays and the actual kilometres. or under contract negotiation, and 95 station construction, to the fi nal certifi cation stations as well as four radionuclide visit in 2005, the station establishment Palau’s topography varies from the laboratories had contracts for operation and mountainous island of Babeldoab with its maintenance. During the last six months, dense rainforest, where IS39 is located, to fi ve additional stations have been certifi ed. coral atolls typically fringed by large barrier Furthermore, approximately 182 stations reefs. Palau is considered one of the most were confi gured in the International biologically diverse countries on earth. Its Data Centre (IDC) operational system. abundant marine life makes it one of the world’s top scuba-diving destinations. As the IMS network approaches completion, the focus shifts from the With a population just under 20,000, building of stations towards their sustainable the small island nation’s economy is based maintenance. By the end of 2007, the PTS on tourism. Government is currently the expects that approximately 90 per cent major provider of infrastructure, services and of the IMS network will be installed. ■ ON THE WAY TO THE INFRASOUND ARRAY SITE employment. Agroforestry is the traditional

PAGE 12 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG agricultural practice in the country. It accounts for one percent of national output and income, the same as manufacturing.

In 1994, Palau became independent in free association with the United States, with a constitutional government and a market-based democracy. Palau`s society is a complex blend of old traditions and western concepts. The system of government has three interdependent authorities – national, state and traditional. The traditional culture is based on clans and chiefdoms, which still operate both within and outside constitutional government. There is a strong matrilineal tradition in Palau and women remain powerful in family life, particularly through their infl uence in land matters.1 ‘AIRAI BAI’, TRADITIONAL MEETING HOUSE FOR THE GOVERNING ELDERS, KOROR, PALAU

Land played a major role in the States. The Americans began to return determines ownership of all land. Land once unfortunate colonial history of Palau. land to dispossessed Palauans. There is, owned by individuals, clans or lineages will Germans began taking land from Palauans however, a fundamental difference in the have to be returned to them, which led to in 1899 and the Japanese brought large Anglo-American concept of ownership and the situation that thousands of Palauans are portions of Palauan land under their control the traditional Palauan understanding of land involved in an estimated 30,000 cases of real after they succeeded the Germans in 1914. rights. Today, land ownership is one of the estate litigation. Between 1947 and 1994, Palau was part of main issues in Palau. Foreign ownership of the United Nations Trust Territory of the land is prohibited by the Constitution. The It is against this background that a Pacifi c Islands, administered by the United Land Claims Reorganization Act of 1996 senior PTS manager convinced the Palauan authorities to have an IMS station built on Palauan land. To achieve this, he needed to navigate carefully between local traditional and state authorities, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Key players in this context were Mr John B. Skebong, Governor of the State of Ngaremlengui2, where IS39 is located, and Mr Isaac Soaladaob, Chief, Division of Foreign Relations, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Besides the land issue, the small island nation is highly sensitized about nuclear issues. In 1979, the people of Palau voted overwhelmingly for a Constitution which prohibited the use, testing, storage or disposal of nuclear, chemical and biological

CENTRAL POWER SITE WITH SOLAR PANELS, IS39, PALAU weapons, and the entry into State territory of both nuclear-power and nuclear-armed

1 Palauan women were also at the forefront of the grassroots movement to keep Palau nuclear-free. ships and aircraft. Consequently, when 2 Palau consists of 16 states. Each of them has its own Constitution and independent government headed by an elected governor. His responsibilities include land use planning, environmental protection and health and welfare. voting for the Compact of Free Association

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 13 Verifi cation highlights

Challenges of establishing infrasound station IS39 in Palau continued from previous page

coarse, one and a half metres high grass, whereas the tops of the hills are frequently covered wit thick ferns of the same height. During rain seasons, low-lying areas are subject to fl ooding and the whole terrain becomes very muddy and slippery.

During a three weeks site survey mission in 2001, three PTS staff members and Dr Milton Garces from the Infrasound Laboratory of the University of Hawaii, United States, with the assistance from the Palauan Bureau of Foreign Affairs, tried to determine a suitable location for the seven elements infrasonic pipe array. They were confronted with exceptional challenges in diffi cult environmental conditions, such as

CERTIFICATION TEAM USING U-BEAM TO ACCESS INFRASOUND SITE WHILE BRIDGE IS BEING RECONSTRUCTED, PALAU, JUNE 2005 carrying heavy equipment up- and downhill on muddy and slippery jungle ground, with the United States, they did not approve fi nally ruled that the three-quarters majority fi nding a path in the dense rainforest without the second question in the referendum that needed to amend the Constitution could be GPS and no good maps, having to use would have allowed nuclear materials in replaced by a simple majority (51%). In machetes to slash a way through the thick its territory. The struggle of upholding the 1993, the Palauans voted to suspend the anti- vegetation of lacerating grasses and stinging constitutional right of Palau to be nuclear- nuclear provisions of the Constitution and the trees. One can easily imagine that in a free nearly split the closely-knit society of Compact was fi nally approved in 1994. climate with nearly 100 percent humidity and the island State. Ten referenda were held on a temperature of 32˚C even the simplest tasks either the Compact or the Constitution. None The awareness created by the political require great effort. yielded the 75% majority required to change struggle for a nuclear-free Palau made it the Constitution. The Palau Supreme Court easier for the PTS negotiator to convince In the following narrative, Mr Milton the Palauan authorities that the goals of the Garces describes a typical fi eld day in Palau, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty when the installation team had to check the (CTBT) are consistent with their own goals. array site area for unexploded ordnances The next step was to identify a suitable (UXOs). Hundreds of these dangerous site for the IMS station close to the Treaty remains from the Pacifi c War were buried by location coordinates on a rocky outcrop the Japanese in the jungle of the island. on the western shoreline of the Babeldoab Island. It turned out that the area was “The fresh colours of dawn clash insuffi cient for an infrasound array. Hence, against the blast of humidity that greets an area further east, in the interior of the us when we open the hotel door. After Babeldoab Island, was identifi ed. yesterday’s downpour, the air is fi nally cleared of the volcanic ash from the eruption The terrain on the Babeldoab Island is of Anathan volcano in the Marianas, located characterized by small hills and knolls with about 1500 kilometres away from Palau. steep gullies in between which are covered In the dim twilight, we wave to the friendly with thick jungle forest vegetation. Creeks neighbours sitting on the side of the road by often run at the bottom of the gullies. The our hotel. We load our mud-crusted shoes height of the trees increases with the depth in and equipment in the four-wheel-drive car, the gully and can reach more than 15 metres. and take off to the car rental company to CERTIFICATION TESTS AT INFRASOUND ARRAY ELEMENT H5 OF IS39, PALAU, JUNE 2005 The low-lying fl at areas are covered with change it for the third time. The 4WD on the

PAGE 14 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG fi rst car did not really work, as we learned sun is now approaching the zenith, and we before the excavator pulled us off the swamp. are completely soaked from the steam and This second car did not have any threads evaporation of yesterday’s rain. on the tires, which prevented us from going uphill in the mud, a distressing realization We enter the forest with our metal to make after going downhill. Fortunately, detectors and survey tape, invariably taking we had enough fl at ground to get a running a few slips until we remember the sensitive start, and after a few slippery tries we made walking style required in dark, muddy, mossy, it back up the hill. Today the car rental vine tangled tropical jungles. There is no agent greets us with the anticipated relish GPS reception under the deep canopy, so of another good story to laugh about. He we navigate using small but recognizable congenially gives us car number three, which signs in the forest ecosystem, light cues, has some tire threads and a functional 4WD, topographic changes, and massive amounts but no air conditioner. of fl agging tape. We fi nd rifl e shells, some sake bottle shards, but no large munitions, so On our way to the array site with our we leave the central array site. vehicle upgrade, the service engine light PTS RENTAL CAR BEING TOWED OUT OF THE MUD goes on. We ignore it, as this is a permanent The last, and most challenging sensor BY EXCAVATOR, PALAU feature of almost every rental. We take the vault is at the bottom of a steep incline dirt track that leads to the central array site, held together primarily by tree roots. accumulated stress with a volley of dark where we meet our unexploded ordnance After one of our engineers rolled down humour, and privately heave a sigh of relief (UXO) consultant at the gate, who will help the hill, coming to an abrupt and painful at having kept our limbs. us look for potentially explosive surprises in stop by straddling a tree, we deployed a the jungle. descending rope system to assist in the As we begin driving back to lowering of personnel and material. We town under the waning light of dusk, Past the gate, we descend through the slowly make our descent into the forest, the clouds burst open with heavy, taro farms to fi nd yesterday’s rains have slipping in the soaked ground and hanging impenetrable rain. The road is now a swept off our access bridge to the array on to the rope for dear life. At the bottom river of mud. Our windows are mostly site. We park the car a safe distance from of the incline we survey a deep horizontal up, but since we have no air conditioner, the river bank and cross the river by foot, tunnel dug into the mud by Japanese we need to have them partly down washing yesterday’s mud off our boots. The troops. We fi nd no UXO’s. We release to prevent complete fogging of the windshield. Driving at a crawl, we watch as all light is extinguished, leaving us in a dark and slippery obstacle course. As rapidly as the rain came, it dissipates.

We cruise into our hotel, waving from our mud-encrusted vehicle to the same friendly neighbours, who are (still?) sitting by the side of the road, but now surrounded by children.

Tired from another challenging day in the fi eld, we dine on local fi sh and vegetables and go to bed with hopes that our shoes dry a bit better tonight.”

continued on page 27 LEFT-OVER AIRPLANE FRAGMENT FROM WORLD WAR II FOUND LYING NEAR THE INFRASOUND SITE, PALAU

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 15 Verifi cation highlights

Preparations for the Integrated Field Exercise in 2008

In February 2006, Working Group B endorsed the planning for the preparation and conduct of the 2008 On-Site Inspection (OSI) Integrated Field Exercise (IFE08) which will be held in the second half of 2008. The planning phase started in early 2006 and the exercise will be concluded with the fi nal debriefi ng in 2009.

According to the OSI Strategic Plan, integrated fi eld exercises are considered a pre-eminent activity of the fi rst development cycle of the OSI regime. The IFE08 aims at integrating the many techniques and activities identifi ed by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) throughout the various phases of an OSI. It also aims at integrating the efforts of the various units of BOARDING M18 HELICOPTER FOR VISUAL OBSERVATION AND GAMMA SURVEY, 2005 DIRECTED EXERCISE the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) (DE05), KAZAKHSTAN. which will contribute to the preparation, conduct or support of an OSI. There will The EAG, consisting of national who should have received prior training, as be a need to coordinate areas such as experts in their personal capacity, meets well as members of the control team or the training, human resources, fi nance, logistics, with PTS staff members to consider issues evaluation team will benefi t from logistical communications and infrastructure. requiring particular attention and expertise. and administrative support. Another Initial discussions so far included general important task is to set up the whole A two-level managerial approach has design, scenario and equipment issues. PTS exercise, including the preparation of a been set up for addressing the challenges staff members, representing their units, suitable inspection area and the development raised by the preparation of the IFE08: The constitute the PTS-wide Coordination of a detailed test-scenario. This should allow fi rst level foresees a project coordinator, Group that meets as required to consider for the implementation of the provisions in who organizes and prepares meetings of issues that need enhanced coordination. the ‘test manual’, which were developed an ‘Expert Advisory Group’ (EAG) and a Specialized sub-groups have been identifi ed by Working Group B to support the IFE08. ‘PTS-wide Coordination Group’. for areas such as communications and Furthermore, additional documentation infrastructure. They focus on specifi c issues such as standard operating procedures and and report to the main group. guidelines are currently under development.

The second level comprises a project Both the project coordinator and the manager and a task force that includes manager are working under the supervision consultants, national experts and PTS staff of the OSI Director, who is responsible for members. Building on the recommendations decisions regarding the Integrated Field of the EAG and the PTS-wide Coordination Exercise and for reporting about the status Group as well as on the decisions by the of preparations to the Executive Secretary OSI Director, the project manager will and the Preparatory Commission. arrange for the detailed preparation and support of the IFE08. In coordination with These arrangements for the the host country, the project manager will preparation of the IFE should allow the make sure that equipment, already in PTS PTS to maximize the benefi ts from the custody or lent by Member States, could unprecedented interest and the fi nancial be transported, utilized and maintained in efforts made by the Commission for an ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING, 2005 DIRECTED EXERCISE (DE05), KAZAKHSTAN the fi eld. He will ensure that participants, activity of this kind. ■

PAGE 16 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG The role of National Data Centres in the System-wide Performance Test

National Data Centres (NDCs) are the main former years – were obtained for further A total of twelve NDCs participated recipients of data, products and services assessment of IDC location procedure. in the implementation of specifi c test provided by the Provisional Technical case scenarios that included testing of: Secretariat (PTS). As such, NDCs have a Another important fi eld of cooperation valuable role to play in many aspects of within the SPT1 was the assessment of • the PTS’s capability to incorporate, the evaluation of the fi rst System-wide analysis capabilities in the radionuclide upon an NDC request, data from the Performance Test (SPT1). This was also technologies. During the April - May 2005 prototype Cooperating National Facilities recognized by Working Group B, when phase, the SPT1 focused on the analysis into IDC analysis of specifi ed events; preparing for the performance testing of the IDC radionuclide products through • the capacity of the IDC request system phase which took place from April to June comparison with results of analyses to provide the NDCs with quick access 2005. To ensure that the development of carried out at NDCs. In a specifi c test case to a large amount of data; and the verifi cation regime would benefi t fully conducted in June 2005, the PTS released • the capability of automatic and from the cooperation efforts of the NDCs, a set of 100 artifi cially spiked radionuclide interactive data processing at the the PTS set up guidelines and indicated spectra to perform benchmarks on the IDC and radionuclide laboratories specifi c areas where NDCs then chose to capability of the various analysis software by analyzing a set of hundred focus their work. The evaluation was based modules available at the IDC and the NDCs artifi cial radionuclide spectra. on the comparison of results obtained in fi nding the corresponding signals. continued on page 28 independently from the International Data Centre (IDC) and from the NDCs.

For this purpose, the IDC received relevant contributions from several NDCs:

• two NDCs provided seismoacoustic detection lists, • nine NDCs shared seismological bulletins, and • four NDCs submitted radionuclide analysis reports.

The comparisons between the IDC Reviewed Event Bulletin (REB) and NDC bulletins focused on assessing the IDC detection capability and event locations accuracy within corresponding national networks. As a result, it turned out that in many regions detection thresholds are at magnitude four or below, as inferred from the magnitude of missed events and in general fi tting into the theoretical model of monitoring thresholds produced by the IDC. Contributions from NDCs can be a valuable source of events whose location and origin time were measured with high accuracy. These data are very important for assessing

the IDC’s location accuracy. Within SPT1, MAP OF 801 EVENTS DETECTED BY THE ITALIAN NDC WITHIN OR CLOSE TO THE NATIONAL NETWORK (BLACK CROSSES). EIGHTEEN EVENTS WERE LOCATED BY BOTH IDC AND NDC (MAGNITUDE ML =3.0-4.1), WHICH ARE some 20 events in Scandinavia and the DEPICTED BY RED AND GREEN CIRCLES THAT CORRESPOND WITH ERROR ESTIMATES. THE LOCATIONS OF THE TWO LARGEST EVENTS FROM THE NDC BULLETIN (MAGNITUDE ML =3.5-3.6) NOT FOUND IN THE REB ARE Baltic Sea – and additional ones from DEPICTED BY BLUE SQUARES.

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 17 Verifi cation highlights

Potential contributions of IMS stations to an Indonesian Tsunami Warning System

More than one and a half years the time span needed after a massive earthquake off the for issuing a timely coast of Sumatra sparked a tsunami tsunami warning. that killed or left missing 216 000 people, the countries of the region The six IMS are working hard to establish stations use the most effi cient tsunami warning systems. advanced technology that is available on Indonesia, which bore the brunt of the market and is the devastating December 26 tsunami, compatible with the plans to spend US$ 125 million on equipment employed setting up its own tsunami detection in the Indonesian system. The unique geography of the Tsunami Warning country with nearly 18,000 islands, System. Furthermore, extending more than 5,000 kilometres they are part of the from east to west and nearly 2,000 IMS seismic network kilometres from north to south, that receives data from DIGGING A TRENCH FROM THE SENSORS TO THE CENTRAL RECORDING FACILITY, makes this a challenging task. around the globe which AUXILIARY SEISMIC STATION AS44, KAPPANG, INDONESIA are also distributed to Under the terms of the Treaty, other countries of the Other States in the region are Indonesia1 hosts six International region for tsunami warning purposes. utilizing IMS data in support of their Monitoring System (IMS) auxiliary national tsunami warning efforts. For seismic stations which are located in So far, one auxiliary seismic example, data from several IMS stations such a way that they can capture any station, AS43, located on Sumatra, has are being forwarded to Malaysia for this major disturbance on the Indonesian been certifi ed. Two more stations, AS44 purpose. Other efforts towards enhancing territory. Data from the IMS stations on Sulawesi and AS45 on Timor, are tsunami warning capability include can be sent in real time to Jakarta using expected to be certifi ed in the course of the forwarding of IMS data from the satellite communication. In combination this year. For the rest of the stations, the International Data Centre (IDC) in Vienna with other resources, such as early- Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) is in to recognized international tsunami warning buoys and the local seismic negotiations with the Indonesian authorities. warning centres on a test basis, under a stations, data from the IMS stations Construction work for AS40 located on decision of the Preparatory Commission can contribute to decrease substantially Java and AS41 and AS42 on Irian Jaya is dated 4 March 2005. The Northwest scheduled to start in the course of this year. Pacifi c Tsunami Information Centre in Japan has reported that such data Once all six stations are fully forwarded from the IDC provides more operational, the seismic data sent timely and reliable IMS data than they to Jakarta could make a signifi cant obtain by other data receiving methods. ■ contribution to the Indonesian Tsunami Warning System. Furthermore, the Indonesian scientifi c community would be in a position to benefi t from the exchange of information on the latest seismic and satellite communication technologies, from data produced by the entire IMS network as well as from technical capacity NANOMETRICS ENGINEER INSTRUCTING LOCAL STATION OPERATOR, AS43, PARAPAT, INDONESIA, JAN. 2004 building and training offered by the CTBTO Preparatory Commission. 1 Indonesia is one of the 44 States mentioned in Annex 2 of the Treaty, INSTALLATION OF GCI ANTENNA, AS44, KAPPANG, whose ratification is a condition for its entry into force. INDONESIA, NOVEMBER 2002

PAGE 18 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG State of health monitoring of the International Monitoring System

Data Data Processing, analysis Distribution generation transport & archiving of data & products

THE HANDLING OF IMS DATA

According to the Treaty, the main quality of the data or the resulting one or several responsible parties elements of the International products, wherever it may occur. inside or outside the PTS. The ultimate Monitoring System (IMS) are the goal is to restore data acquisition stations where data are generated, the In order to monitor the data in the minimum possible time. The Global Communication Infrastructure effectively, the PTS relies on an incidents are logged and tracked with (GCI) through which the data are Operations Centre, a system-wide the system-wide incident tracking tool. transported to Vienna, and the incident tracking tool, and state International Data Centre (IDC) of health (SOH) monitoring. SOH monitoring provides where data are received, archived, permanent surveillance of the processed and analyzed, and from The Operations Centre provides operational status, or ‘health’, of all where the data and resulting products centralized monitoring as well as IMS elements. Its main functions are are redistributed to States Signatories. supervision of incident detection and the collection of SOH information resolution. The PTS Operations Centre using specially designed software, the The Provisional Technical continuously monitors the data from all rapid display of this information for Secretariat (PTS) is responsible for IMS stations and ensures its readiness operators, the detection of incidents, the monitoring, assessing and reporting on for processing at the IDC. When no data initiation of alarms when an incident the operational status of all parts of this are being received in Vienna, an incident occurs, and the storing of previous SOH system as these functions are performed. ‘outage alarm’ is generated. This information for later examination. The PTS manages the detection and triggers a process of troubleshooting resolution of any ‘incident’ that which, depending on the complexity The PTS currently uses several affects the availability, timeliness or of the problem, requires actions from SOH monitoring tools. Waveform and continued on page 27

SCREENSHOT OF GCI NETWORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DISPLAYING REAL SCREENSHOT OF PROCESSING WORKFLOW SOFTWARE SHOWING IMS DATA TIME STATUS OF GCI LINKS ACQUISITION STATUS AT THE OPERATIONS CENTRE

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 19 Potential civil and scientifi c applications

Monitoring volcanic eruptions with the IMS infrasound network

The International Monitoring System uses seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide technologies to monitor compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. These technologies, together with the data and the products of the International Data Centre, have potential civil and scientifi c applications which may benefi t States and the scientifi c community.

Nearly ten years ago, none of the 60 infrasound stations belonging to the International Monitoring System (IMS)

network existed. Since then, a signifi cant VOLCANIC ACTIVITY AT TAVURVUR VOLCANO, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, 2001. THE VOLCANO HAD A MAJOR ERUPTION IN 1994. effort has been made to establish the infrasound network. Quite a few of these that reached the peak of interest during the Since the majority of the energy stations are located in some of the most Fifties and since then lost progressively its of a volcanic eruption is released in the remote areas of the globe. To build them, importance. atmosphere, the infrasound technology can logistical and engineering challenges be a very useful tool for monitoring volcanic needed to be mastered. The fi rst infrasound Besides its mandate, to monitor activity. The infrasound waves generated station was installed in 1999 and the data the potential occurrence of nuclear by a volcanic eruption can have a wide fl ow to Vienna commenced in May 1999. tests and verify compliance with the frequency content and can be recorded not Currently, 36 stations are in operation, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty only by infrasound stations close to the 33 of them have been certifi ed. (CTBT) together with the other verifi cation volcano, but also from distant ones (hundreds technologies, the IMS infrasound or thousands of kilometers far from the The fact that 60% of the IMS network has the potential to provide a source). The range of detection of a volcanic infrasound network is operational has signifi cant contribution to the monitoring eruption depends on the yield of the eruption contributed to trigger again the interest of volcanic eruptions around the world. and on the wind conditions in the lower and around the world for infrasound, a science upper atmosphere. Volcanic hazard represents a serious threat towards human settlements located In recent years, the PTS has registered in the vicinity of a volcano. A signifi cant a signifi cant number of detections of number of casualties and serious damage volcanic eruptions by one or more stations to cities, villages and the environment has of the IMS infrasound network. As shown been caused by erupting volcanoes such in Figure 1, IS56 in Newport, United States, as Pinatubo in the Philippines (1991), clearly detected the eruption of Mount St. Soufrière Hills in Monserrat, West Indies Helens which occurred on 9 March 2005 at (1995 and 2004), Tavurvur and Manam 01:25 Universal Time (UT). in Papua New Guinea (1994 and 2005), and Mount St. Helens in Washington The information available on volcanic State, United States (1980, 2005). eruptions, in particular the beginning of an outbreak, is often very limited. There are Can the IMS infrasound network help several reasons to that: at times, the local EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION AT SOUFRIÈRE HILLS VOLCANO, MONTSERRAT, WEST INDIES, 1995 reduce volcanic hazard? weather conditions do not permit a clear

PAGE 20 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG view of the volcano from the satellites. In such incidents have occurred, but loss of systems (like satellite imagery, seismic or gas other cases, a local monitoring network human lives could be avoided thanks to emission stations), are either not available or is not available to record an increase of the excellent performance of the pilots. cannot be used. An integration of the existing seismic and/or gas emission activity in the monitoring tools supporting civil aviation neighborhood of the volcano. Can the IMS infrasound network with information coming from the IMS contribute to air safety? infrasound network might play an important The presence of an infrasound station role for the future of air safety. relatively close to the volcano can be The monitoring of volcanic activity extremely useful to monitor the start of an can signifi cantly help civil aviation to The interest for infrasound eruption and can be used both as a unique mitigate the risk of future accidents. In fact, technology restarted just in 1996, at the monitoring tool in case other monitoring any warning system capable of distributing time of the adoption of the Comprehensive systems are not available (or cannot be used), promptly updated bulletins of volcanic Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Since then, and as a complementary tool to other, already activity can help pilots to avoid entering several studies have been carried out or existing, monitoring systems. an ash plume intersecting the route of their are still ongoing regarding the potential aircrafts. In this respect, the contribution applications of this technology. It will Volcanic eruptions can also be of infrasound technology could play a be a great achievement if the IMS extremely dangerous for civil aviation. The relevant role in monitoring volcanic activity infrasound network will, in the future, ash cloud produced by a sudden eruption and trigger a warning system whenever, be able to mitigate the risk of loss of can block an aircraft engine. So far several as previously mentioned, other monitoring lives due to volcanic eruptions. ■

FIGURE 1. IS56 DETECTING THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION AT MOUNT ST. HELENS ON 9 MARCH 2005. THE LOWER WINDOW SHOWS THE ANALYZED DATA WHICH HAS BEEN FILTERED BETWEEN 0.4 AND 4HZ. THE NEXT WINDOW DEPICTS, USING A COLOR SCALE, THE SPEED OF THE INCOMING WAVES. THE SPEED VALUE FITS WELL WITH THE EXPECTED SPEED FOR INFRASOUND WAVES. THE UPPER WINDOW SHOWS, USING A COLOR SCALE, THE DIRECTION (IN DEGREES) FROM WHICH THE SIGNAL REACHED THE INFRASOUND STATION: THE DIRECTION FITS VERY WELL WITH THE POSITION OF THE VOLCANO WITH RESPECT TO THE STATION.

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 21 Verifi cation science

The CTBT noble gas verifi cation component

The International Monitoring System endeavour is known as the International therefore to be supplied with special (IMS) and the International Data Noble Gas Experiment (INGE). equipment for sampling and analysis Centre were designed to be fully of noble gases, notably xenon. capable of monitoring compliance Nuclear explosions produce with the Treaty. New research and radioactive debris that is carried by the Noble gas radionuclides improved communication technologies wind and can be collected far away. As of CTBT interest continuously refi ne the detection the absolute majority of radionuclides capabilities of the IMS. This column that are formed in an explosion stick to The noble gases that can be found introduces some of the latest microscopic particles, the “classical” in nature are helium, neon, argon, developments in verifi cation science. method for long range detection of krypton, xenon and radon. Among atmospheric nuclear explosions has always these, xenon provides the ultimate been to collect these particles by forcing set of radioactive bomb products air through a suitable fi lter medium. for long distance detection. The noble gas component of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The subsequent analyses of the Most of these xenon isotopes (CTBT) verifi cation apparatus is at the fi lters then provide something like an are produced abundantly in the same time the oldest and the most novel open book for those who can read it. fi ssion part of the explosion and have long range detection technology applied One can see whether an atom bomb suitable half-lives; long-lived enough for the nuclear weapons complex. or a thermonuclear bomb was tested, to allow for collection and analysis, Already during World War II, Douglas in what environment it was tested, but also short-lived enough to avoid A-26 Invader bombers descended over what fi ssionable material it utilized building up a disturbing background suspected atomic sites in Germany and exactly when it was tested. Within reservoir in the atmosphere. to collect air samples that were taken the CTBT verifi cation regime such to a laboratory for analysis. The idea analyses are planned at 80 stations to Many krypton isotopes are also was to look for the radioactive isotope cover the atmospheric environment. abundantly produced, but they decay xenon-133, which would have been away within minutes or a few hours. extensively produced in a plutonium The CTBT, however, in addition One of them, however, krypton-85, is production reactor, had there been one. requires a wider focus since it also has to so long-lived that we are all currently cover the situation of a potential Treaty exposed to about one Becquerel per CTBT verifi cation violator trying to do everything possible cubic metre of it from past testing requires monitoring both to evade detection. The explosion can and reprocessing activities. particles and gases for example take place in a rainstorm or in a big block of ice on a boat at sea with Argon has one isotope of Even though noble gas surveillance the intention to have most radionuclides interest, argon-37, that might be fl ights did continue through the half washed out and deposited locally. produced in the rocks surrounding century of nuclear weapons testing, an underground nuclear explosion. It the technology was not advanced The comparatively few noble gas has a life time of nearly two months, enough and did not provide the required radionuclides, however, are not affected but is quite diffi cult and expensive to sensitivity to be directly employed by washout because of their inherent measure at low concentrations and is in the CTBT verifi cation system. To quality, their nobleness, not to attach therefore not suitable for continuous help solve this, four countries, France, to other materials or atoms. For the surveillance. It can, however, be Russian Federation, Sweden and the same reason they are hard to contain of great interest during an on-site United States have worked consistently in an underground explosion as they inspection where higher levels can during the last decade to develop tend to be pushed out early on from be anticipated and where the time reliable and sensitive new systems, the cavity by overpressure or sucked scale of the operation quite well which are fi elded and tested primarily out later from cracks and faults in the matches the life time of the isotope. at noble gas designated International ground by passing thunderstorms and Monitoring System (IMS) stations. This low pressure weather systems. Half The xenon isotopes of interest are of the 80 radionuclide stations are xenon-131m, xenon-133m, xenon-133

PAGE 22 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG and xenon-135 with average life times that the radiations were emitted at Understanding the of seventeen, three, eight and 0.5 days. exactly the same time and therefore xenon signatures Radionuclides decay to reach lower from the same individual nucleus. energy levels by emitting photons Several stations have already and/or material particles. Our xenon The four systems also use accumulated data on the background of quartet does it with X rays, gamma rays somewhat different processes to extract the xenon isotopes. A special non-IMS and with electrons. These emissions the xenon fraction from the sampled station in Ottawa, Canada, has provided can be measured in different ways air. All systems let the air pass through valuable benchmark signals of all and the amounts of the nuclides in a some cleaning stages before the xenon four isotopes from a nearby plant for sample can thereby be determined. is slowed down and trapped in a medical radionuclide production. Other column of activated charcoal. In two stations have contributed to a general New xenon analyzers of the systems this charcoal is kept at picture of xenon-133 backgrounds in a temperature of some -100 to -200 °C central Europe, Scandinavia and in The four systems developed by France, while the other two manage the process the Arctic. In broad terms we can say Russia, Sweden and the United States at room temperature. One system also that central Europe displays a few utilize different parts of the radiations makes use of a special membrane to mBq/m3 of xenon-133, and that that like X and gamma rays only or initially enrich the xenon in the sample. level is reduced a factor of ten into mid combinations of these with electrons Scandinavia and further a factor of ten where the detector systems make sure

continued on page 25

THE COLOURED CIRCLES MARK NOBLE GAS STATIONS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO DELIVER DATA BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE WHITE SQUARES INDICATE STATIONS THAT THEN REMAIN TO BE ESTABLISHED TO COMPLETE THE 40 STATION NETWORK (ONE STILL TO BE DETERMINED). THE STATION CAX05 IN OTTAWA, CANADA, IS A NON-IMS NATIONAL CONTRIBUTION.

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 23 Outreach activities

The most recent international They discussed the prospects of increased The Provisional Technical cooperation workshop took place from regional and sub-regional cooperation Secretariat (PTS) conducts a 31 May to 2 June 2006 in Kuala Lumpur, with the aim of developing effective variety of activities focusing on Malaysia. Some 30 participants from networks in the region, particularly enhancing the Treaty understanding nine South-East Asian States, including focusing on IMS station installation and of decision-makers and the representatives from ministries of National Data Centre operation. Special general public. It generates foreign affairs, policy makers and attention was also given to the potential political support, encourages scientifi c experts as well as a UNESCO civil and scientifi c applications of the international cooperation representative, attended the workshop CTBT verifi cation technologies such as and builds national technical which was opened by H.E. Dr Jamaluddin natural disaster management. capacities through training. Jarjis, Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Mr Tóth, who also met with H.E. addressed by Tibor Tóth, Executive Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Foreign Secretary of the Preparatory Commission. Minister of Malaysia, on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) International cooperation The workshop aimed at enhancing Coordinating Bureau Ministerial the understanding of the Comprehensive Meeting, stressed the signifi cance The Provisional Technical Secretariat Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), of the ratifi cation by Malaysia when (PTS) continues its international facilitating the earliest possible talking to the press: “The ratifi cation of cooperation and outreach activities completion of the establishment of Malaysia will be an extremely important aimed at enhancing the understanding the International Monitoring System symbolic act in the regional context of the Treaty and the work of the (IMS) and promoting ratifi cation of the because Malaysia is the coordinator of Preparatory Commission, promoting Treaty. During the three-day workshop, NAM in the wider sense, as well as an technical cooperation among Member representatives of participating States important example to those countries States and providing legal and technical gave their perspectives on the CTBT and which have yet to ratify the CTBT.” ■ assistance for national capacity building. on national implementation measures. External Relations

The role of the External Relations Section in promoting the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is being attained by pursuing a two-pronged approach: There are bilateral contacts with individual States through their capitals and Permanent Missions on one hand and outreach activities on the margins of multilateral forums and meetings of intergovernmental organizations on the other. All efforts are refl ected in a fi ve- pillar strategy:

• Providing support to the Executive Secretary, the Special Representative

PARTICIPANTS AT THE WORKSHOP IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 31 MAY - 2 JUNE 2006 in the Article XIV Conference

PAGE 24 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG The CTBT noble gas … continued from page 23

process, the chairperson of the Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to into the Arctic. The main sources of this Preparatory Commission as well enable them to benefi t fully from are nuclear power plants in Europe. as bureaus of geographical and participating in the work of the Treaty political groups, with a view to regime the CTBTO Preparatory As the quartet of xenon isotopes advancing the cause of the Treaty in Commission has emphasized the is also produced and disseminated by those Annex 2 States that have yet importance of training and capacity civilian applications it is very important to ratify the Treaty; building since its establishment. for CTBT verifi cation purposes to be able to provide data that enables States • Promoting the universality of the In order to complement to interpret the signatures as indicative Treaty, as an effective instrument traditional training methods, the of either a nuclear explosion or of some for international peace and security, Provisional Technical Secretariat other event. It is therefore necessary to providing assistance to States to move (PTS) has developed an e-learning understand very well the dynamics of forward with the signature/ratifi cation project, which will provide electronic, civilian sources like reactors and the two process as well as supporting States interactive access to training major radioxenon plants (Chalk River which, after ratifi cation, need courses and technical workshops to in Canada and Fleurus in Belgium). As assistance in implementing the Treaty; authorised users as well as continuous the composition of the quartet varies in access to training modules. the emissions from different sources, • Cooperating and creating synergies forming ratios between the four relevant with international organizations The e-learning project will include isotopes can provide insight into the by establishing cooperation training for national offi cials involved origin of a given sample. Research frameworks with relevant in the development and operation is zealously pursued to improve the international organizations. of verifi cation system elements of understanding of these relations. Furthermore, forging linkages with the CTBT, International Monitoring other international and sub/regional System (IMS) technologies and station Xenon and the waveform instruments, in order to ensure installation processes; for station technologies more visibility of the Treaty in the managers and operators on the function concerned organizations and their and operation of station equipment and The waveform networks (seismic, relevant programmes; the interaction with the International hydroacoustics and infrasound) are Data Centre (IDC) on the function of able to geo-locate suspicious events, • Featuring the potential benefi ts the IDC and the analysis of IMS data; but they cannot provide evidence of the of the verifi cation technologies for national data centre staff on the ‘smoking gun’ of a nuclear event. With as a distinctive asset of the CTBT utlization of and access to IMS data the radionuclide technologies it is quite verifi cation regime in external and IDC products and services; and for the opposite. They are informative on the relations activities and; on-site inspection (OSI) experts and character of the event but cannot pinpoint potential future OSI inspectors. the location with a corresponding • Supporting and assisting Member States exactness. The answer to this is data to promote the Treaty in a specifi c The e-learning project, which fusion; fi rst, a meteorological analysis to country or group of countries. ■ will be implemented in two phases conclude from what areas of the globe over a period of approximately 15 radionuclides could possibly emanate months, will be fi nanced by a Joint and second, a comparison with waveform Action of the European Union in detections from the same area and time. the magnitude of 1,133 million It is possible, however, that in a well Training Euros. A pilot phase is currently designed evasive scenario a nuclear in progress and is being fi nanced event is solely detected by the noble In order to assist Member States to by the Netherlands and the Czech gas system. The noble gas component fulfi l their verifi cation responsibilities Republic in the amounts of € 180,000 is therefore of very special importance under the Comprehensive Nuclear- and € 15,263.55, respectively. ■ to the CTBT verifi cation regime. ■

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 25 Secretariat snapshots

Scientifi c symposium – CTBT: Synergies With Science, 1996-2006 and Beyond by Ola Dahlman

experts at the PTS and scientifi c institutions Kick-off presentations on the three globally. Such knowledge recapitalization themes of the symposium will be given by is essential to keep up the vitality of the Prof Paul Richards, Colombia University, Organization and to make it attractive Imaging the Earth; Prof Helga Kromp- to new generations of scientists. Close Kolb, University of Natural Resources and relations between the PTS and scientifi c Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Imaging institutions will facilitate the recruitment the Atmosphere; Dr Usama Fayyad, Senior of qualifi ed PTS staff in the future. It Vice President of Research and Strategic might create new career opportunities Data Solutions at Yahoo!, Modern Data for experts that are leaving the PTS. Analysis Techniques; and Michael T. Jones, Chief Technologist of Google Earth, To maintain and develop the CTBT Connecting the Earth. On 1 September as a global Treaty is also a question of we will have three consecutive seminars capacity building in States Signatories. on these issues chaired by the kick-off We have so far successfully connected speakers. The symposium will conclude stations and instruments around the world. by a discussion on how to proceed with Now it is time to connect people and global capacity building in the fi eld of their institutions. Through international science and technology. ■ cooperation on a regional and global

POSTER OF THE SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM, 2006 scale we have to develop the knowledge base and the facilities needed for States Science and scientists played a key to participate fully in the implementation role in the many years of preparation and monitoring of the Treaty. Such Biographical note and negotiation of the Comprehensive cooperation will also enable States to benefi t Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). World from the technologies involved in the famous scientists and engineers have verifi cation system and the data produced Ola Dahlman has used cutting edge technologies in the for civil and scientifi c applications. chaired Working implementation of the most extensive and Group B since complex international verifi cation system This symposium is a fi rst step in a long- the Preparatory ever created. Over the years, a number of term effort to increase interaction between Commission cooperative projects have been conducted the scientifi c community worldwide, States for the CTBTO between the Provisional Technical Signatories and the PTS. The symposium was established Secretariat (PTS) and scientifi c institutions. covers the afternoon of 31 August and the nearly ten years It is essential to develop this cooperation whole day of 1 September. In the afternoon ago. In March further. Like any other system in our society, of 31 August the symposium will be opened 2006, he left the the verifi cation system has to be gradually with welcome addresses by H.E. Dr Ursula chair. During the negotiations for the modernized using new scientifi c results and Plassnik, Austrian Federal Minister for CTBT, Mr Dahlman chaired for some 15 emerging technologies. Foreign Affairs, and Dr Michael Häupl, years the Scientifi c Expert Group at the Mayor of Vienna. Keynote addresses on Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. Establishing cost-effi cient analysis global capacity building will be given of a growing fl ow of data and delivering by Dr Mohammed ElBaradei, Director His research has focused on products of high quality to States Signatories General IAEA, Mr Nobuaki Tanaka, verifi cation and global security issues. Mr are issues crucial to the PTS. Many of these United Nations Under-Secretary-General Dahlman has managed several research issues are also at the top of the agenda of for Disarmament, and Mr Claude Allègre, laboratories and retired a few years ago scientifi c institutions around the globe. A former French Minister of Education. as the Deputy Director General of the closer cooperation between the PTS and The Treaty and the development of the Swedish Defence Research Agency. He is scientifi c institutions would thus be of verifi cation regime will be presented by the a member of the Royal Swedish Academy great mutual benefi t. Increased cooperation current and the former Executive Secretaries of Defence Sciences and the Swedish would also strengthen the network between and illustrated by a multimedia show. Institute of International Affairs. ■

PAGE 26 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG Challenges of establishing infrasound station IS39 in Palau continued from page 15

team, consisting of two PTS staff members eleven metres high plastic tube ‘tunnel’. On and two infrasound experts from the top of it the antenna was taped to the plastic University of Hawaii, discovered that the tubes and attached with ropes to the trees only bridge leading to the central array and on three levels. With this creative solution, the central power site was removed because the certifi cation team was able to measure it needed to be rebuilt. Instead of crossing four out of seven primary summing points the bridge comfortably and securely with and provide the necessary documentation their 4WD-vehicle, they had to carry the for the certifi cation of the station. equipment on their backs, crossing the creek on a 30 centimetres-wide U-beam several IS39 was certifi ed on 14 September times a day. 2005 and is now continuously sending data to the International Data Centre in Vienna. When checking the primary summing Without the help of the Palauan people, both point3 of the infrasound station, the at the local and the government levels, the certifi cation team was unable to receive station would not exist. They keep a watchful

FIXATING 11 METRE HIGH PLASTIC TUBE WITH ANTENNA a signal through the dense canopy of the eye over what goes on in their territory and ON TOP FOR DIFFERENTIAL GPS MEASUREMENTS rainforest. This procedure, which is necessary ensure that the array site is protected from for station certifi cation, requires the antenna vandalism and theft. There is a Palauan Every day in the construction phase of IS39 to be positioned exactly above the primary station operator, Mr Swenny Ongidobel, and had a scent of adventure and presented its summing point with only one metre of technical services are provided by a Palauan own unique challenges. This is also true of divergence. Luckily, both of the infrasound construction company. Last but not least, the certifi cation visit, which took place from experts from the University of Hawaii had the Palauan Government perceives the IMS 31 May to 9 June 2005. The certifi cation experience in Alpine climbing. In a creative station as a sign of prestige and international

3 The primary summing point corresponds to the location of the central element outburst, plastic tubes, initially foreseen for recognition, as their contribution to a safer of the infrasound array. All the relative distances of the other array elements are computed taking as a reference the position of the primary summing point. plumbing, were stuck together to create an nuclear-free world. ■

State of health monitoring of the International Monitoring System continued from page 19

radionuclide data acquisition and SOH is currently composed of of the status of IMS stations, processing are monitored by a software matured products such as the GCI telecommunication links, data product called WorkFlow. A separate NMS and other software tools under acquisition and processing. Moreover, tool has been implemented to monitor development. With about sixty percent such information is not intended only the computer infrastructure. A third of the IMS network in place, the to be viewed by the PTS Operations system, the GCI Network Management development and testing of an integrated Centre. Those outside the PTS, who System (NMS) monitors the status SOH monitoring system is essential to are responsible for parts of the system of the GCI communications links. ensure effective and effi cient operations. such as station operators, also need to see how the SOH information The NMS of the GCI is the A prototype integrated SOH affects their responsibilities. ■ principal tool used within the PTS and software tool is being developed. by the GCI contractor to benchmark Based on a variety of SOH software the performance of the GCI, to identify modules and a centralized database, and to diagnose network problems. it will provide an integrated view

CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG PAGE 27 Treaty Status Calendar of Meetings 2006 Signatures ...... 176 Preparatory Commission: Ratifi cations ...... 134 26th Session 20 – 23 June 2006 27th Session 13 – 17 November 2006 Annex 2 Ratifi cations ...... 34 AS OF 17 JULY 2006 Working Group A: 29th Session 29 May – 2 June 2006 30th Session 2 – 6 October 2006

Working Group B: 26th Session 13 Feb. – 3 March 2006 The role of National Data Centres... 27th Session I 15 – 26 May 2006 continued from page 17 27th Session II 28 August – 8 Sept. 2006

NDCs also contributed to the The cooperation between the PTS Advisory Group: evaluation phase of the system-wide and NDCs is a very important factor 26th Session I 24 – 28 April 2006 performance test. Many interesting results in the build-up and fi ne-tuning of 26th Session II 15 – 19 May 2006 were reported during the NDC Evaluation the verifi cation regime. Based on the 27th Session 11 – 15 September 2006 Workshop which was held in Rome, Italy, feedback received from the NDCs, the from 17 to 21 October 2005. More than 25 IDC is improving its systems within NDCs and station operators participated the guidelines of the draft International and provided feedback during the workshop Monitoring System and International PUBLISHED BY: (see also CTBTO Spectrum No.7, page 5) Data Centre Operational Manuals. ■ Public Information Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban CTBTO Spectrum contributors list Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

Vienna International Centre Editorial Board: Don Phillips, Florence Riviere, Daniela Rozgonova, P.O. Box 1200 Makoto Takano, Bernhard Wrabetz 1400 Vienna, Austria

PTS staff contributors: T +43 1 26030 6200 Sergio Barrientos, Paola Campus, Hong-Lae Chang, Igor Chernobay, F +43 1 26030 5823 Lars-Erik De Geer, Patrick Dewez, Fil Filipkowski, Patrick Grenard, Hans Holderbach, E [email protected] Kirsten Haupt, Alfred Kramer, Mehrunnissa Mehdi, Bob Pearce, Don Phillips, I www.ctbto.org Lamine Seydi, Roderick Stewart, Gerardo Suarez, Mario Villagran-Herrera © 2006 CTBTO Preparatory Commission CTBTO Spectrum – ISSN 1680-533X External contributor: Milton Garces (station operator of IS39, Palau)

Prepared and coordinated by: Andrea Wurm DISCLAIMER: The boundaries and presentation of material on maps do not imply Layout and design: Todd Vincent the expression of any opinion on the part of the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Distribution: Christian Evertz Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

If you wish to subscribe to the online version of the CTBTO Spectrum, please visit the reference section of our web site: www.ctbto.org. Printed in Austria, July 2006

PAGE 28 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG