Seismic methods for monitoring underground nuclear explosions, an assessment of the status and outlook [Book Review]

Abstract

This optimistic assessment of the status and outlook for the use of seismic methods to monitor underground nuclear explosions is timely, comprehensive, and competent. It is valuable for anyone interested in monitoring of underground nuclear explosions, whether seismologist or not, and gives background as well as current information necessary for adequate understanding of the problem. It is not a scientific treatise, but a consensus with a collection of scientific opinions from which the consensus was derived. In general it is clearly written--there is a certain amount of confusion introduced because the seismological discussion is primarily carried out in terms of magnitude, whereas the consensus statement only discusses yield. The study group responsible for the report consisted of a group of seismologists from Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, India, Japan, Romania, Sweden, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (Constantinescu, Ericsson, Herrin, Karnik, Mechler, Miyamura, Pasechnik, Press, Thirlaway, Whittam, Varghese). Dr. D. Davies, the Rapporteur, was responsible for much of the work of compiling the report.