Shillong gets state of the art research centre to generate model for earthquake predictions
Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, January 19 2016:
The government has set up a
state of the art institution �
Shillong Geophysical
Research Centre (SGRC) � to
study seismic processes and
generate a precursor model for
predictions of an earthquake.
The centre was inaugurated
on Monday evening by the
Union minister for science
and technology and earth sciences
Dr Harsh Vardhan
within the existing Indian Institute
of Geomagnetism (IIG)
in Shillong, Meghalaya.
The focus of research at
this newly formed centre at
Shillong would be on deciphering
the pre- and
co-seismic signatures in various
atmospheric regions over
the North-East using a variety
of observational techniques
aided by numerical modelling
tools.
"The proposed multiparametric
study to be
initiated at the Shillong regional
centre is a modest
attempt towards identifying
the anomalous seismic zones
in North-East India to understand
the generation
mechanisms of great earthquakes
in the region", said an
official statement of the ministry
of science and
technology.
The north-eastern
part of India is located at the
centre of one of the most
active earthquake-prone regions
of the country.
The
region is quite vulnerable as
was evident during the recent
Manipur earthquake of early
this month.
Studies to be undertaken at
SGRC will contribute to a
better understanding of the
earthquake sources and their
generation mechanisms leading
to an improved
characterization of earthquake
occurrence and hazards in the
North-East and assessment of
threats they pose to the local
population.
Any early warning signals
emerging from the earthquake
preparatory zones that can be
detected in the observational
tools to be deployed at SGRC
will help in mitigating the
effects posed by impending
earthquakes in this region.
"The ultimate challenge is
to develop an earthquake precursor
model based on varied
observations of the atmospheric
and ionospheric
response to earthquake occurrence
in order to build an
Integrated Earthquake Precursory
Signal System (IEPSS).
The SGRC would strive to
serve the needs of the NE
region as a prominent seat of
geophysical research and
learning in the region", said
the ministry.
The Indian Institute of
Geomagnetism (IIG) is a premier
research organization
under the department of science
and technology and is
involved in research on
geomagnetism and allied
fields.
Its headquarters is located
at New Panvel near
Mumbai.
It has two regional
centres and twelve magnetic
observatories located across
the length and breadth of the
country.
The IIG has taken a new
initiative in establishing the
Shillong Geophysical Research
Centre (SGRC) as its
third regional centre.
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