91.5X122 Cm Poster Template

Government initiatives and cooperation in seismology providing knowledge and training in Namibia Bufelo Lushetile and David Hutchins The Geological Survey of Namibia, Ministry of Mines and Energy, 1 Aviation Road, P.O Box 2168, Windhoek

ABSTRACT SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH – AFRICAARRAY

AfricaArray is public-private partnership supporting training and research in earth, atmospheric, and space The Geological Survey of Namibia has recently established a National Seismological Network with a view to sciences in Africa founded by The University of Witwatersrand, and Council of Geoscience of South Africa and improve seismological records and ultimately generate a Seismic Hazard Map of the country. As a signatory of Penn. State University, USA. As part of this partnership one of the seven NSN stations, Rundu, was recently the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty (CTBT), the government in cooperation with CTBTO established an chosen to provide seismic data to AfricaArray and consequently the seismological equipment was upgraded. In International Monitoring System (IMS) in Tsumeb consisting of Auxiliary seismological station (AS67) and addition, GPS and Meteorological sensors were installed to facilitate weather pattern studies. The seismological Infrasound station (IS35). Other collaborative projects include research in the Geosciences with AfricaArray, with data will contribute toward a more complete image of the African mantle and hence an advanced understanding the main objective of studying crustal movement. In addition, the Walvis Ridge Passive Source and Active mantle dynamics. Seismic Experiments with the German Research Centre for Geoscience (GFZ) aims to provide information on the role of the plume-lithosphere interaction during break-up of the Southern Atlantic Ocean and the lithospheric structure of the passive volcanic margin of Namibia. More recently, a seismology in schools project in collaboration with the British Geological Survey has commenced to encourage learners to be aware of the importance of the earth sciences.

INTRODUCTION

The Geological Survey of Namibia with the support of the Namibian government has become increasingly involved in cooperative seismological projects. Many of these involve crustal studies and natural disaster mitigation. The establishment of the National Seismic Network will enable the generation of seismic hazard maps which will help in overall hazard mitigation strategies. More recently, the Geological Survey has begun to introduce seismology to schools. Figure 4: GPS and Meteorological sensors in Rundu

TSUMEB GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH STATION WALVIS RIDGE PASSIVE AND ACTIVE SEISMIC SOURCE EXPERIMENTS

A seismological station was first established at Tsumeb in 1993 by United States Geological Survey (USGS) as The WALPASS project is a collaborative project with the German Research Center for Geoscience (GFZ), part of the Global Seismic Network to monitor world-wide earthquakes. After Namibia ratified the Nuclear Test Ban Potsdam, Germany. The active source experiment commenced in November 2010 and was completed in early Treaty (CTBT) in 2001, the Tsumeb Geophysical Research Station was selected to become a part of the January 2011. Three lines were shot, one NE-SW, one NW-SE and a N-S line. These lines were over 500 km in international monitoring network, with the establishment of an Infrasound Station and upgrading of the existing length and the main objective was to investigate the lithospheric structure of the passive volcanic margin of seismological equipment. The IS35NA (Infrasound Station) and the AS67-TSUM (Auxiliary Seismic Station) were Namibia. certified in June and July 2004, respectively, since when have been transmitting data to the National Data Centre in Windhoek and, simultaneously, to the International Data Centre in Vienna, Austria. This data contributes The second element of the WALPASS project is the Walvis Ridge Passive Source experiment in which 29 towards the monitoring and detection of both sub-surface and atmospheric nuclear explosions. temporary seismic stations have been deployed at roughly 50-100 km spacing. This temporary seismic network will be operational for 18 months and will monitor the local seismicity in the north western part of the country. The The Tsumeb station also monitors magnetic secular variation in co-operation with the Hermanus Magnetic seismological data will also provide information on the role of plume-lithosphere interaction during the break-up of Observatory of South Africa and cosmic emissions in conjunction with the University of Potchefstroom, South the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Africa

VSAT antenna

NATIONAL SEISMOLOGICAL NETWORK

Temporary station distribution map (left) and a recently deployed station (right) The establishment of the auxiliary seismological station at Tsumeb prompted the Geological Survey of Namibia to increase the number of seismological stations to form a National Seismological Network (NSN). In 2000, the old seismological station in Windhoek was refurbished and since then six further stations at Opuwo, Kamanjab, Aus, SEISMOLOGY IN SCHOOLS PROJECT Rundu, Tsumeb and Ariamsvlei have been established. Although these stations were strategically located to cover as much of the country as possible, additional stations are planned for Gobabis, Karibib and Katima Mulilo to The Geological Survey of Namibia, in collaboration with the British Geological Survey, has recently introduced complete the coverage. The primary objective of the NSN is to monitor seismically active faults and to compile a a seismology in schools project. The main aim of the project is to increase the interest of pupils in science catalogue of earthquakes with origin times, hypocenters and magnitude. It is planned to use these data together particularly in physics and to advance career possibilities in the geosciences. with relevant historical data, to compile a seismic hazard map of the country.

As a first step, in April 2010, two-one component seismometers were delivered to Etosha Secondary school in Tsumeb and the Walvis Bay Private school, following teachers training at the Geological Survey in Windhoek. During the next five years additional seismometers will be purchased and the programme rolled out to schools in rural areas. Once established the schools will be encouraged to form a schools seismological network and locate seismological events in Namibia and worldwide.

Distribution map of seismic stations (yellow dots) Instruments at the Windhoek station. Teachers receiving training on how to set-up the seismometer (left) and a running seismometer at Etosha Secondary School