Geology and Geoscience

Biography

Biography: Ghassan I Aleqabi

Abstract

Seismic waves travel inside and on the surface of the earth with no regard to political boarders or geography.  The Middle East today is full of seismic stations and standalone national data centers that fall short of fulfilling their potential monitoring capabilities.  For Example, North Iraq Seismological Network (NISN), Iraq Seismological Network (ISN), Jordan Seismological Observatory (JSO), Qatar Seismic Network (QSN), Saudi Arabia Geological Survey (SGS) seismic network, Oman Seismological Network (OSN), Kuwait National Seismic Network (KNSN), UAE National Center of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) and Dubai Seismic Network (DSN), Bahrain National Seismic Monitoring Station (NSMS), Iran International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES), and Kandilli Observatory and Research Institute (ISK), among others, do not share data in real-time with neighboring countries as if all damaging earthquakes can only occur within the boundaries of their respective borders.  The seismic risk that a country like UAE may encounter, is from neighboring earthquakes in Iran rather than from local seismicity.  The purpose of sharing continuous seismic data in real-time is to take full advantage of a significantly expanded virtual network at no or little communication cost, since it does not require building more seismic station in each county.  Without sacrificing control over their networks, data centers carry their own seismic data processing. Seismological data centers and institutions in the Middle East may enter into bi-lateral agreements to share their data in real-time.  NISN in Iraq and JSO in Jordan are preparing to demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of this virtual Middle East Seismographic Network (vMESN). vMESN objective is to virtually expand the existing countries seismic networks and enhance seismological research in the Middle East and support required civil protection activities.