Seismological Laboratory

Established as a research and public service division within UNR’s Geosciences Institute, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory (NSL) has responsibilities for seismic monitoring systems that provide emergency notifications to local, federal, and state agencies in the following significant earthquakes in the region. Nevada is the third most seismically activity state in the US. As a key member of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS), the laboratory operates a network of seismographic stations integrated with California and national earthquake monitoring systems. These data are the basis of undergraduate and graduate student research in tectonics and earthquake hazard and risk reduction; undergraduate student programs provide employment for undergraduates while at UNR. NSL’s regional digital IP microwave system, operated by networking and radio professionals, supports over 200 real-time region-wide seismograph stations as well as other long-haul remote monitoring projects within the Nevada University system. Leveraging the NSL data infrastructure, grant-and contract-supported research prepares well-educated professionals for careers in seismology.