On-site inspection for verification of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
A seismic monitoring system and on-site inspections are the major components of a verification system for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) to give parties assurance that clandestine underground nuclear weapon tests are not taking place. The primary task lies with the seismic monitoring system which must be capable of identifying most earthquakes in the magnitude range of concern as earthquakes, leaving a small number of unidentified events. If any unidentified event on the territory of one party appeared suspicious to another party, and thus potentially an explosion, an on-site inspection could be invoked to decide whether or not a nuclear explosion had taken place. Over the years, on-site inspections have been one of the most contentious issues in test ban negotiations and discussions. In the uncompleted test ban negotiations of 1977-80 between the US, UK, and USSR, voluntary OSIs were established as a basis for negotiation. Voluntary OSIs would require between the parties a common interest and cooperation toward resolving suspicions if OSIs were to serve the purpose of confidence building. On the technical level, an OSI could not assure identification of a clandestine test, but an evader would probably reject any request for an OSI at the site of an evasive test, rather than run the risk of an OSI. The verification system does not provide direct physical evidence of a violation. This could pose a difficult and controversial decision on compliance. 16 refs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6394857
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-95313; CONF-8610136-4; ON: DE87009737
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: SIPRI/CIIPS study on a comprehensive test ban, Ottawa, Canada, 23 Oct 1986; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ARMS CONTROL
VERIFICATION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
IN-COUNTRY DETECTION
MONITORING
NUCLEAR EXPLOSION DETECTION
SEISMIC DETECTION
TREATIES
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
DETECTION
EXPLOSIONS
350300* - Arms Control- Verification- (1987-)
450300 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosion Detection