Research Required to Support Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Monitoring

On September 24, 1996, President Clinton signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty at the United Nations Headquarters.

Over the next five months, 141 nations, including the four other nuclear weapon states?Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom?added their signatures to this total ban on nuclear explosions.

To help achieve verification of compliance with its provisions, the treaty specifies an extensive International Monitoring System of seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasonic, and radionuclide sensors.

This volume identifies specific research activities that will be needed if the United States is to effectively monitor compliance with the treaty provisions. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1 Introduction: The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty2 CTBT Monitoring Technical Challenges That Drive Research3 Monitoring Technologies: Research Priorities4 U.S.

Research Infrastructure5 Conclusions and RecommendationsReferencesAppendix A: Statement of TaskAppendix B: Research Support HistoryAppendix C: Seismic Event LocationAppendix D: Seismic Magnitudes and Source StrengthsAppendix E: HydroacousticsAppendix F: InfrasonicsAppendix G: Radionuclide Source Term Ranges for Different TestScenariosAppendix H: Acronyms