Project Title

Global seismograph station (GSN) at South Pole Station, Palmer Station and Scott Base

Summary

Event Number:
G-090-P/S
NSF / USGS Agreement

Program Director:
Dr. Michael Jackson

ASC POC/Implementer:
Paul Sullivan / Jamee Johnson / Sheryl Seagraves

Principal Investigator(s)

David Wilson
dwilson@usgs.gov
Albequerque, New Mexico

Project Web Site:
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/operations/stations/IU/PMSA/

Location

Supporting Stations: Palmer Station, South Pole Station
Research Locations: McMurdo Field Local, Palmer Station, Scott Base, South Pole Station

Description

The Global Seismographic Network (GSN) is a worldwide network of about 150 modern seismograph stations. Each station consists of seismometers, recoding and communications equipment, and facilities necessary for the operation and security of the equipment; some stations may include ancillary sensors. The GSN is a multi-use facility serving the interests of scientific research, earthquake monitoring and tsunami warning, nuclear explosion monitoring, assessment of earthquake hazards, and education. GSN is a partnership between U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Currently, the USGS supports about two-thirds of GSN stations operated by the USGS Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory (ASL); the NSF Division of Earth Sciences provides funding and oversight for a competitively solicited cooperative agreement that includes operations for about one-third of the GSN; and the NSF Office of Polar Programs provides in kind support for USGS GSN station operations in Antarctica. The USGS ASL operates four GSN stations in Antarctica: CASY (Casey Antarctica), PMSA (Palmer Station, Antarctica), SBA (Scott Base, Antarctica), and QSPA (South Pole Remote Earth Science Observatory, in the Quiet Zone).

Field Season Overview

Palmer Station (IU PMSA) The project has space in Terra Lab for data analyzer hardware. All other hardware and the seismometer are housed in the seismic vault behind Terra Lab. Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) provides year-round, onsite support by an ASC research associate. The science team does not typically deploy to Palmer Station but operates the Global Seismographic Network station remotely.

South Pole Station (IU QSPA) Research associate support will be provided throughout the year for routine monitoring and maintenance of equipment, to include observation of the equipment housed in the SPRESSO vault to ensure it is in normal operating mode, shutdown and restart of software and hardware as needed, and communication with the project's Principal Investigator and other personnel.

Scott Base (GT SBA) Project participants will service the GSN Streckeisen STS-2/VBB Seismometer as needed while deploying through McMurdo Station.