The newspaper “Neutral Turkmenistan” (issue for 8 August 2023) published an article by Svetlana Akhmedova, Scientific Secretary of the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, which deals with the current projects of the Institute and the prospects for international cooperation of this institution with similar foreign organizations. Here is an abridged version of the article:
The Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics is a specialized scientific institution that performs seismogeophysical, geodynamic, hydrodynamic and geochemical monitoring. An important part of comprehensive monitoring is the search for earthquake precursors, ensuring the registration of earthquakes and the prompt transmission of seismic information to the relevant authorities of Turkmenistan.
Since 2018, the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program, has been participating in the Project “Strengthening the national capacity of Turkmenistan for seismic risk assessment, prevention and response to potential earthquakes.” The project provides for a comprehensive assessment of the seismic hazard of Ashgabat city by applying the latest research methodologies.
At the stage of completion of the Project, it is planned to develop a seismic risk map for the Turkmen capital.
This year, a new map of the city of Ashgabat’s seismic microdistricting was developed, which, once approved, will become a regulation document for builders.
The Institute has created an innovative new technology that enables mass surveys of potential development regions without the requirement to drill research wells in order to build a map of seismic microdistricting. Turkmen seismologists have started implementing this novel method on the territory of Arkadag city.
The Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan actively participates in the implementation of the state Program “Reduction of seismic risk in earthquake-prone zones of Turkmenistan”. The program is aimed at clarifying the seismic hazard of the territory of Turkmenistan, determining the zones of possible earthquakes. Together with other departments, it is planned to create a set of seismic risk assessment programs that calculates the possible shaking of the territory.
Quarterly, the Working Group of the Institute’s Expert Council provide the State Commission of Turkmenistan on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense with Conclusions on the assessment of seismic hazard.
The Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, participating in the development of state standards for construction, developed a National Seismic Zoning Map of Turkmenistan in 2017 and a new seismic micro-zoning map of the city of Ashgabat in 2023.
In March 2023, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, taking part in an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States, stated that the member countries of the OTS are located in seismic zones, and in this aspect it is very important to coordinate actions to ensure seismic safety. In this regard, the Institute, together with other relevant organizations, has drafted a Concept for Improving the system of ensuring seismic safety of the population and territory of the participating countries of the Organization of Turkic States, which will be approved after coordination with all countries.
In recent years, the cooperation between scientists-seismologists of Turkmenistan and foreign countries has significantly expanded: joint research projects and scientific programs, working meetings and consultations, internships of scientists in order to improve their professional training are carried out. The Institute cooperates with such countries as the UK, USA, Japan, Austria, Russia, China, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and others.
The project “Improving the system of seismological observations in and around the city of Ashgabat,” signed under the “Joint Statement on the Further Development of Friendship and Partnership between Turkmenistan and Japan,” is currently in the implementation phase. The project aims to modernize the seismological monitoring system while also developing an appropriate information network and conducting an engineering-geological study and seismic assessment of Ashgabat. One of the Project’s outcomes will be the commissioning of a real-time digital seismological observation system.
An agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the Institute of Seismology of the Earthquake Administration of China is on the stage of signing.
Within the framework of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the Schmidt Institute of Earth Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, research work has started on the “Complex of Drainage facilities”. The project provides for monitoring of the Earth’s crust using modern geodynamic methods for geotechnogenic analysis of potential deformations.
It is planned to conduct tests of a diagnostic seismic system developed in Armenia and determining the degree of vulnerability of high-rise residential and public buildings. An agreement was reached on the installation of two sets of instruments at the seismic station being built in Arkadag city.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics and the Institute of Geology, Earthquake-Resistant Construction and Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan is at the approval stage.
Preparatory work is also underway to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics and the Institute of Seismology named after G.A.Mavlyanov of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan aimed at joint analyzing the seismicity of the two neighboring countries’ transboundary territories. ///nCa, 8 August 2023
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