The USNSN determines the location and
magnitude of significant earthquakes any-
where in the United States within minutes,
while the RSN’s provide this information for
earthquakes in their regions within seconds.
Together, the RSN’s and the USNSN provide
(1) comprehensive, reliable, and cost-effective
earthquake monitoring of the Nation, (2)
highly accurate recordings of even the largest
earthquakes, and (3) high-resolution mapping
of faults in seismically active areas. In the
aftermath of a major earthquake, the
USGS/NEIC and the RSN’s rapidly provide
earthquake information, including detailed
interpretations to assist disaster-response
activities. The USGS/NEIC uses the USNSN
to assist other Federal agencies in tsunami
warnings, overseeing nuclear powerplant
safety during earthquakes, and discriminating
nuclear blasts from earthquakes under
nuclear- test-ban agreements.
SEISMIC MONITORING
• Real-time hazards information for emer-
gency management and the general public
• General information for public officials,
utilities, the engineering community, and
the media
• Earthquake catalog for earthquake hazards
assessments
• Seismic waveform archive for applied and
basic research
National Component (USNSN)
• National real-time advisories within
minutes
• Uniform earthquake monitoring of the
Nation
• Precise recordings of medium to large
earthquakes
Regional Component (RSN’s)
• Regional real-time advisories within
seconds
• Detailed monitoring of earthquake-prone
areas
• Precision mapping of faults
• Local expertise on earthquake hazards to
increase public awareness and safety
Each USNSN station
consists of a system
of sophisticated
seismometers, data-
acquisition system,
and satellite
telecommunications
equipment. USNSN
stations provide
high-quality, real-
time information on
earthquake occur-
rences directly to
the USGS National
Earthquake
Information Center
(NEIC) in Colorado
and to cooperators
throughout the
network.
For the Nation,
seismic moni-
toring offers a
wide variety of
benefits
focused on
minimizing
loss of life and
property that
result from
earthquakes,
and under-
standing earth-
quake phe-
nomena for
earthquake-
hazards
planning.
USNSN Stations
USNSN Stations (Planned)
Cooperating Stations
Cooperating Stations (Planned)
USNSN Stations
