DMS Node Focus

Node Highlights - Albuquerque Seismic Lab

The ASL DCC has been settling into its new still somewhat temporary location at the University of New Mexico Science and Technology Park since early spring. The entire ASL is now in four separate facilities, so we are still working to establish more efficiency in the daily work grind. The entire ASL relocation process has had a predictably unsettling effect on some of the personnel and there have been a few changes. The DCC has lost one of its QC staff and a second programmer. As we restructure, our staff has displayed a lot of heart and tenacity, and have shown a great capacity to adapt to unforeseen issues. We are currently in the process of attempting to fill two programmer positions.

There have also been big changes in some data availability. The Chinese data (network = IC) has been a major component of our incoming data since 1988. Last year we worked with the Chinese to upgrade all their stations to be able to transmit live data. The ASL has also been involved with an effort to add stations to existing Chinese sites. Recently, there has been a major shift in the manner of communications between the Chinese Seismological Bureau and the ASL. This shift has implications over our (ASL) heads and further negotiations are being handled by the State Department. It is an unfortunate byproduct of these negotiations that we are now not receiving any of the Chinese data. It is uncertain when data flow will again normalize.

The ASL DCC would like to extend an invitation to all who travel to this part of the southwest to stop and visit our facility. While we are looking forward to a permanent home for ASL in the next year or two, we still welcome visitors and value the stimulation they provide to the lab.

Submitted by Harold Bolton, ASL

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