IMD is the nodal agency of the Government of India
dealing with this discipline. The Seismology Division of IMD is located at New
Delhi and its activities are:
Monitoring earthquakes in and around India
IMD is the nodal agency of the Government of India
dealing with this discipline. The Seismology Division of IMD is located at New
Delhi and its activities are:
Monitoring earthquakes in and around India
IMD, at present is maintaining a network of 51 seismological observatories. During 1996-99, twenty-four seismological observatories were upgraded with broadband digital seismographs.. A Central Receiving Station (CRS ) and a National Seismological Data Base Centre (NSDC) have been established at New Delhi to receive analyze and systematically archive the seismic data. In operational mode, the center is responsible for quick determination of earthquake parameters and dissemination to various user agencies. During 2000-2002, a 16-element VSAT based digital telemetry seismograph station network with a central receiving station at New Delhi, was established in and around Delhi for monitoring of seismicity of the region. The continuous ground motion data from the field stations is received at CRS in real time mode through VSAT based communication system.
Research in Pure and Applied Seismology
Research in fundamental and applied seismology is a part of the activities of the Seismology Division. Special studies of important earthquakes which occur in and near India are also taken up.
Responding to queries relating to earthquakes
Manufacture of seismological instruments
- The Division attends to all enquiries pertaining to seismology:
- It is responsible for publication of National seismic data and exchange of seismic data with National and International agencies.
- It assists various National Organisations in seismic studies and maintains liaison with international bodies.
- Seismic co-efficients for design of large and small dams are supplied to the project authorities.
Development and manufacture of seismological instruments and accessories is undertaken in the IMD Instrumentation Workshop at New Delhi. Besides catering to the needs of the national observatories, the organisation also makes a limited supply of seismological instruments to other institutions.
National Seismological Database Centre
The National Seismological Database Centre is located at New Delhi. The Central Receiving Station, which is also located at New Delhi, maintains a round the clock vigil on the occurrence of earthquakes and disseminates the information to the goverment authorities and media.
Microearthquake surveys
Earthquakes of magnitude below 3 are known as microearthquakes. Monitoring of microearthquake activity in a small area is done for many applications such as the evaluation of seismotectonics, monitoring of aftershock activity, swarm type of activity, etc. A closely spaced network with portable seismographs is operated for a short period to monitor such microearthquake activity in a specific area as and when required.