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Seismic, volcanic, and geodetic networks in Ecuador: building capacity for monitoring and research

Abstract:

The Instituto Geofísico of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGEPN) is in charge of the monitoring and study of seismic and volcanic activity in the Ecuadorean territory. This institution currently maintains the Servicio Nacional de Sismología y Vulcanología (The National Seismology and Volcanology Service), which includes monitoring via modern seismic, volcanic, and geodetic networks with 81 seismic stations, 117 strongmotion sensors, 85 Global Positioning System (GPS) stations, and 8 first- and second-level volcano observatories (at least 2 independentmonitoring techniques).This systemis supported by a real-time transmission network that relies on different and independent technologies (satellite, microwave, fiber-optic, and digital radio). It also maintains the National Processing Center for Issuing Seismic and Volcanic Alerts (TERRAS center),which operates 24/7 and supplies the information by email, fax, radio, Skype, Facebook, Twitter, website, and SMS, and the national seismic and volcanic data center, which maintains raw and processed seismic, volcanic, and geodetic data. Evolution, coverage, and characteristics of these networks are described in this article.