Republican Seismic Survey Center of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Republican Seismic Survey Center (RSSC) is the main organization, involved in the research and study of earthquakes on the territory of Azerbaijan Republic. Seismological, geophysical, geochemical and geodynamic complex researches are conducted in the Center.
About the Republican Seismic Survey Center of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
RSSC is the only organization in CIS, where the seismological researches are conducted by a network of seismic stations operating via satellite communication. This Seismic Stations Network produced by "Kinemetrix" company of the United States is widely used.
Currently, there are 35 seismic stations of RSSC operating via satellite communication on the territory of Republic. Five more seismic stations will be installed on land. The installation of 3 seabed seismic stations is planned in Azerbaijani sector of Caspian Sea for the first time in CIS. As the result of the installation of these stations, it will be possible to research both the tectonic processes in the sea and the impacts of these processes to oil fields and oil production.
History.
The history of the Republican Seismic Survey Center (RSSC) of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) has various historic stages. In Azerbaijan, the first instrumental observations began in the early 20th century. 
In 1902, after a strong earthquake which occurred in Shamakhi, first supervision began with the initiative of Nobel brothers to establish 3 seismic stations, thereby the instrumental observations have been started. 
The independent Seismological Service of Azerbaijan was restricted by the former Soviet Union for a long time. By the decision of the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic in 1979 according to the decree of the National Academy of Sciences was created ”Geophysics” Geophysical Research Party at the Institute of Geology of ANAS. 
In 1980 on its basis was founded Experimental Methodical Geophysics Expedition. The expedition was supervised by Arif Hasanov, the corresponding member of ANAS, doctor of geology-mineralogy sciences. 
Since 2008, the corresponding member of ANAS, “Honoured Scientist”, the doctor of geology-minerology sciences, professor Yetirmishli Gurban Jalal headed the RSSC. There was his exceptional services in the establishment and expansion of seismic monitoring network .
In order to improve the network of seismological observations and scientific research in the field of seismology, in 2009–2010 11 more stations were installed at Kinemetrics (Astara, Zardab, Kedabek, Khinalig, Altyagach, Kurdamir, Lerik, Zakatala, Mingechevir, Gazakh, Saatly). In 2011, the RSSC installed and commissioned more than 6 telemetric seismic stations (Gobustan, Gabala, Gusar, Ordubad, Shakhbuz, Heydarabad) and, thus, the number of seismic stations reached 31.
With the new system, the server's memory has been increased, and the latest version of Antelope 5.2-64 has been downloaded. The new system is used for processing earthquakes and other programs, creating a database and archiving. Apple computers are running the Mac OS X 10 operating systems. 
To characterize the strength of the earthquake on the MSK-64 scale different signs are used: the extent of damage of buildings and structures, residual deformations in the soil, ground water regime changes, perceptibility concussion etc.
Macroseismic concussion analysis of the material makes it possible to estimate the intensity on a scale. As a result, constructed a schematic map of isolines is build and it reflects the geographical distribution of macroseismic implications. Subsequently, the results of macroseismic studies to determine the source parameters: its coordinates, depth, magnitude, direction, length, geometric parameters.
Action.
Under the direction of scientific research of Republican Seismic Survey Center of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences is included:
Seismology.
Seismology is studying the seismicity on the territory of the republic, the kinematic and dynamic parameters of earthquakes. Seismological studies are carried out on the basis of a network of observations consisting of 35 telemetric seismic stations, the seismic regime of the territory of the republic, the distribution of earthquake sources, the dynamics of seismic processes in focal zones are estimated, the active sections of deep faults, the intensity of possible maximum earthquakes are identified. The mechanism of strong earthquakes is being studied, the seismic risk of large cities is estimated, and the seismicity of large construction sites is being investigated.
In 2017, the International Seismotomography Laboratory was created at the Republican Seismic Survey Center of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (RSSC ANAS), operating in the Livermore National Laboratory of the United States and the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Geophysics.
Geophysical studies include the analysis of seismoanomalous effects in variations of geomagnetic field intensity, non-tidal variations in gravity, and geodynamic studies.
Structure:
Geodynamics.
Remote sensing of the Earth from space is an innovative scientific and methodological basis of knowledge of the structure and geodynamics of the Earth\'s crust. Thanks to modern satellite technology has become a real speedy and high-precision geo-information to the regional geological studies, the search for mineral deposits, monitoring and mapping of the state space of the upper part of the lithosphere in technogenesis.
The most important element in creating geodynamic models is the component that takes into account the changes occurring on the surface of the Earth under influence of modern movements of the earth's crust. In many ways, they define activity of many destructive natural phenomena and affect the course of exogenous processes, including those caused by human activities. For the prediction of adverse geodynamic processes requires not only knowledge about the course of the trials themselves, concentrated in appropriate models, but also the corresponding definition in the initial states of the rock mass, which, of course, based on the collection of experimental data.
The most effective way to obtain experimental data - a comprehensive geomechanical monitoring of the Earth\'s near-surface strata on the basis of geodynamic testing. Polygons are organized in places manifestations of the most active units of displacement. To obtain spatial data created geodesic network, monitoring work in this case based on the repeated observation angles and distances between the nodes of the network. In this context, one of the main tasks of observations on the geodynamic polygons - capture the motion of individual structural units and, above all, their horizontal mixing each other especially at the boundaries, ie, in areas of identified faults.
One of the methods that is now widespread in the world is based on the technologies of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). With the advent of GPS-technology, which is the first of the implemented GNSS technologies, the opportunity to implement a high-precision (3-10 mm in all dimensions) of geodetic monitoring vast areas at relatively low cost of funds and time.
Geochemistry.
Is studying the complex investigation of manifestation structure of the seism abnormal effects in the geochemical areas the abnormal areas. In the seismoactice zones of the territory is being investigated the hidro-qas and radioactivity components of the geochemical areas. These works enables to valuate the self strength position of the seismic zones and to reveal the abnormal predictable effects before M3 4.0 earthquake.
Enlightenment.
The RSXM carries out awareness-raising activities on earthquakes in the country and the rules of conduct during earthquakes. These measures are necessary due to the fact that the territory of Azerbaijan is located in a seismically active zone. For two years, the RSXC has been carrying out such awareness-raising activities by RSXM employees in secondary schools located in Baku and different regions of the country, as well as in construction companies.
Journal.
The scientific journal "Seismoprognosis observations in the territory of Azerbaijan" is published in English. The journal with international ISSN certificate is officially registered by the Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Azerbaijan Republic. The editor-in-chief of the scientific journal is the general director of the RSSC ANAS, corresponding member of ANAS, professor Gurban Yetirmishli. Since 2019, the journal has been published twice a year. Articles published in the journal are based on feedback from local and foreign scientists and experts.