The Government of the Azores, through the Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures (SRCTE), is coordinating the installation process of the International infrasound Station IS42 to monitor nuclear tests.

Integrated into the world observation network, the Graciosa station will provide information to the international data centre located in Vienna, Austria.

The monitoring station was established in order to ensure the compliance with the provisions in the treaty to ban nuclear testing, thus enhancing the potentialities of scientific research projects based on technology.

Once again the specific features of Graciosa Island – which is from geological point of view has flat areas and a dense vegetation that protects the high-end equipment – were fundamental for the implementation of this new infrastructure on the island in total investment of 2 million Euros.

Two technicians from the CTBTO (Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization) are visiting the Azores in order to start the installation of this station.

The team has met with members of the SRCTE associated to the Regional Directorate for Science, Technology and Communications, to define the action plan and discuss the issues related to the beginning of the construction of the infrastructure.

Following a call for tenders launched by the CTBTO and after the selection of companies in the previous year, the construction of the station has an estimated completion period of six months, after a test phase will take place in order to assure the operationality of the infrastructure before the end of 2010.

The Centre of Volcanology and Seismic Risk Assessment of the University of the Azores (CVARG) will be in charge of the maintenance and operation of the station.

The National Authority of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has recognised «technical and scientific competences» of the CVARG as well as the importance of the project for the volcanic and earthquake monitoring network of the Azores.