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Policy for an IRIS
Rapid Array Mobilization Program (RAMP)
Introduction : What is RAMP?
RAMP is a component of the IRIS response
to unanticipated seismic events such
as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. It permits deployment of instruments
in the field on a time-table that is not possible within the conventional
PASSCAL structure. It
is justified on the basis of the potential scientific return from studies
of aftershocks of a significant earthquake or of other seismic sources, and
represents a natural and responsible effort by the seismological community
to address a societal need. IRIS policy and resources:
The initiative for a RAMP must come from the scientific community. The
decision on whether IRIS will support a RAMP is ultimately the decision
of the IRIS president and will generally be made within 24 hours
of a request for RAMP instruments. The decision will be based
on the guidelines outlined in Appendix A. IRIS will provide the following
services to scientists undertaking a RAMP.
A. IRIS
has dedicated 10 6-component REFTEKs
to this program at the present. RAMP
instruments are expected to be at the
instrument center when not in the field for a RAMP deployment,
and are not considered as part of the
general PASSCAL instrument pool during the normal PASSCAL scheduling
process.
B. The level of IRIS support for a RAMP
response will fall within one of three
possible categories, depending on the significance of the event and
the scientific potential of the opportunity.
- Large scale effort (>$100K)
for an exceptional event such as
Loma Prieta.
- Modest support ($10-30K) to support small
arrays deployed for relatively short times.
- Loan of instruments only.
These levels of support include,
at most, funds for data acquisition
and processing to generate a data
base suitable for submission to the
DMC in a timely manner. Funds
for scientific analysis of the data
or for instrument loan on a long-term basis must be arranged separately. Given
expected rates of seismicity and funding limitations, level 2 efforts
might be supported 2-4 times/year,
whereas level 1 efforts
might be supported once every 2-5
years. Of
course, there may be exceptions to these estimates, given the unpredicatability
of Mother Nature.
C. IRIS will be responsible for
coordinating RAMP activities with other agencies such as NSF, USGS, NCEER,
EERI, UNAVCO, SCEC, FEMA, CDMG. Policies
pertaining to detailed coordination will be developed in conjunction with these
agencies.
D. IRIS maintains the right to recall instruments lent
either through RAMP or through the normal PASSCAL program in the
case of an instrument shortage due to an important event occurring
on the heels of another. IRIS
hopes that the instrument pool will be large enough for this to rarely
be necessary.
E. Additional resources provided by IRIS:
1. Training
interested scientists on use of instrumentation.
IRIS expects that PI's proposing a RAMP will have
already undergone training and does
not intend to routinely provide technical field support for RAMPS
activities.
2. Maintaining current lists of
trained instrument users and compatible
instrumentation that might be available within the IRIS community
.
3. Facilitating organization of regional
planning groups (see III.A.).
4. Acting as
an scientific information center during
a RAMP response.
5. Developing and distributing
software at the DMC for rapid processing of data
from a RAMP. Obligations of RAMP participants:
A. Initiation of a RAMP will generally be
in response to a request from the scientific
community. IRIS
expects that individual groups interested
in conducting a RAMP for a given event will communicate among
themselves and develop a deployment plan before contacting IRIS. To
facilitate this process IRISwill conduct workshops to
organize regional interest groups and
plan responses.
B. Participants are responsible for obtaining training
on PASSCAL instruments prior to deployment.
C. Participants
are responsible for obtaining necessary
permission and/or official permits for deploying instruments.
D. Data
collected during a RAMP must be submitted to the DMC within 6 months of the
deployment. This
deadline is shorter than that for
a normal PASSCAL program (ie. 1 year) because of the timely nature of the data
collected.
Appendix A: Guidelines and Procedures Criteria for supporting
a RAMP:
Level 1: A very important event because of magnitude,
location, and/or social impact. (examples: Loma Prieta, New
Madrid [1811])
Level 2: An important event with broad-based
scientific interest (examples: Joshua
Tree, Mendocino Triple Junction, Borah Peak)
Level 3: Events of significant
scientific interest when other instruments are not available (examples:
large man-made shots of opportunity, moderate-size regional earthquakes of
significant scientific interest)
(note: Requests for instruments to support
RAMPs outside
of the US must also demonstrate
advance preparation to assure customs clearance for the equipment and adequate
access to deployment sites.) How to activate a RAMP:
Call or send email
to:
Jim Fowler
(505) 835-5072
jim@iris.edu
or
David Simpson
(202) 682-2220
simpson@iris.edu
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