North Korea’s alleged nuclear testing detected by UoM’s virtual seismic network

An alleged nuclear test carried out by North Korea on Wednesday was detected by a virtual network system at the University of Malta.

In a statement, the UoM said that a virtual seismic network operated by the Seismic Monitoring and Research Group at the Department of Geosciences, yesterday detected and rapidly located the blast created by the alleged detonation of a hydrogen bomb.

The virtual network receives real-time seismic recorder data from stations all over the globe and automatically computes the location of an earthquake or blast using triggered sensors. 

The magnitude of the blast was calculated as equivalent to a M5.2 earthquake at 01:30 GMT.

The Virtual Network system showing the event location in North Korea and some of the seismic traces of the blast from global stations received at SMRG

The United Nations Security Council condemned North Korea for its nuclear test. A two-hour closed session of the Security Council on Wednesday afternoon ended with a pledge to “begin to work immediately” on a resolution containing additional measures to rein in Pyongyang.

It may be weeks or longer before detectors sent aloft by the United States and other powers can determine what kind of test was conducted. Detection devices around the world picked up a 5.1 seismic event along North Korea’s northeast coast.