CRUSTAL GEOPHYSICS

The Geological Survey of Namibia commenced the installation of a National Seismological Network (NSN) in 2000. There are currently eight seismological stations that form part of the NSN with research emphasis on earthquake monitoring and mitigating earthquake hazards. The network records earthquakes countrywide and provide data for the Earthquake Hazard Map of Namibia. We use controlled-source reflection and refraction seismology on land.


Tsumeb Geophysical Station


The Geological Survey of Namibia operates and maintains the national seismological network and the operation of the Tsumeb International Monitoring Station (auxiliary seismics and Infrasound) on behalf of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO).

The Tsumeb Station monitors seismic activity as part of the Global Seismological Network (GSN), funded and operated by the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS - a consortium of 80 universities in the USA) in co-operation with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A second station will be established in Windhoek shortly.


The Tsumeb Station monitors seismic activity as part of the Global Seismological Network (GSN), funded and operated by the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS - a consortium of 80 universities in the USA) in co-operation with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A second station will be established in Windhoek shortly. Other joint research ventures include monitoring magnetic secular variation in co-operation with the Hermanus Observatory, South Africa and neutron emissions in conjunction with the University of Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Seismology

There are currently nine seismological stations that form the NSN. Namely, Windhoek, Tsumeb, Rundu, Kamanjab, Aus, Ariamsvlei, Opuwo, Gobabis and Karibib. The network records earthquakes countrywide and provide data for Earthquake Hazard Assessment studies for Namibia. The Tsumeb station is also part of the Global seismological Network and Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (GSN/IRIS) and the station contributes to worldwide earthquake monitoring. It is also one of the Comprehensive Nuclear-test-Ban Treaty Organizations (CTBTO), International Monitoring Stations (IMS) AS067 monitoring nuclear explosions worldwide.



Map of the Namibian Seismological Network


Map of the Namibian Seismicity

The portable seismological stations have also been purchased and will be deployed along faults/trusts and in some towns to determine seismogenic faults, site effects and ground amplification for seismic micro-zonation mapping.