Source: HINDU
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In November 2024, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), is holding a workshop for scientists on using ‘infrasound’. The idea is “to create an international forum for presenting and discussing recent advancements in infrasound research and operational capabilities of global and regional networks.”
Infrasound refers to sound waves with very, very low frequencies. It is a natural phenomenon that can be generated by a wide range of sources, including natural events like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and severe weather systems, as well as man-made activities such as explosions or industrial machinery.
Though the CTBTO’s primary mandate is to get more countries to sign the treaty it also shares the technologies it develops for monitoring nuclear tests with the industry.
The CTBTO’s International Monitoring System (IMS) uses a range of technologies to detect nuclear explosions. Its Infrasound Network (that is being built) is the only global monitoring network of its kind, with plans to build a network of 60 array stations in 35 countries.
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Category |
Details |
|
Frequency Range |
Less than 20 Hz (below the human audible range). |
|
Sources |
Natural: Earthquakes, volcanoes, ocean waves, auroras, meteor strikes, and severe storms (hurricanes, tornadoes). Artificial: Explosions, rocket launches, industrial machinery, large-scale blasts, and wind turbines. |
|
Propagation Characteristics |
Infrasound waves can travel over vast distances through the atmosphere with minimal attenuation, allowing them to be detected thousands of kilometers away from their source. |
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Applications |
Environmental Monitoring: Used to detect and study natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Weather Forecasting: Tracking storms and hurricanes by studying the infrasound they generate. Nuclear Test Monitoring: Infrasound is used to detect clandestine nuclear tests under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. |
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Health Effects |
Extended exposure to infrasound at high intensities has been linked to physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, and pressure sensations in sensitive individuals. It can affect the inner ear, vision, and cause vibroacoustic disease in people exposed to intense sources. |
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Type of Sound |
Frequency Range |
Characteristics |
Sources/Examples |
Applications |
|
Audible Sound |
20 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
- Perceived by human ears |
Human speech, music, machinery, daily sounds |
Communication, music, environmental monitoring |
|
Ultrasound |
Above 20,000 Hz |
- Short wavelengths |
Natural: Bats, dolphins |
Medical imaging (ultrasound), industrial testing (flaw detection), sonar |
|
Subsonic Sound |
Just below 20 Hz (similar to infrasound) |
- Low frequency |
Natural: Large animals, wind |
Used in animal communication, research on vibrations |
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Objective |
Bans all nuclear explosions for military or civilian purposes. |
|
Components |
Preamble, 17 articles, 2 annexes, and a Protocol with 2 annexes. |
|
Entry into Force |
Requires ratification by 44 specific states (Annex 2) with nuclear capabilities or research reactors. So far, 41 have signed and 35 have ratified. |
|
Current Status (as of 2023) |
Signed by 185 countries, ratified by 174. Still not ratified by key states like the U.S., China, India, Pakistan, and others. |
|
Annex 2 States |
Includes nuclear technology states like the U.S., China, Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and others required for entry into force. |
|
Monitoring System |
International Monitoring System (IMS) with 337 facilities: seismic, hydro-acoustic, infra-sound, radionuclide stations to detect nuclear explosions globally. |
|
Key Technologies for Verification |
Seismic, hydro-acoustic, infra-sound, radionuclide stations, and on-site inspections (OSI). |
|
On-Site Inspections (OSI) |
Allowed once the Treaty enters into force. Can be requested if ambiguous events occur. Up to 40 inspectors can search a 1000 sq. km area for evidence of nuclear tests. |
|
Civilian and Scientific Uses |
IMS data can also be used for non-military purposes like tsunami detection, earthquake monitoring, and environmental research. |
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is an international entity designed to ensure compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans all nuclear explosions. While the CTBTO will formally come into effect when the CTBT enters into force, a Preparatory Commission has been in place since 1997, headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
India views the treaty as discriminatory, as it allows nuclear-armed states to retain their arsenals while prohibiting other countries from conducting tests, thus maintaining an imbalance in global nuclear disarmament.
India argues that signing the CTBT would compromise its national security, as it needs the option to conduct nuclear tests for credible minimum deterrence, particularly given regional security challenges.
India insists that the CTBT does not address the broader issue of complete nuclear disarmament, which it sees as essential for global security. India advocates for a universal and non-discriminatory disarmament framework.
Sources:
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q:Consider the following statements in reference to Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): 1. The CTBT prohibits all nuclear test explosions. 2. The CTBT has been ratified by all the Annex II states. Select the correct statements using the codes given below: a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: a Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes, regardless of the yield. Statement 2 is incorrect: CTBT requires ratification by 44 specific states (Annex 2) with nuclear capabilities or research reactors. So far, 41 have signed and 35 have ratified. |
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