Forensic Seismology is one of several other methods used by the global community to determine compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
A network of approximately 170 seismic stations, along with data generated from sources such as infrasound, hydroacoustics, and radionuclide detection, is used to identify and locate nuclear detonations.
Seismic stations record underground pressure waves and transmit this data for processing via secure communication links.
Smaller nuclear explosions are more difficult to identify because pressure waves primarily travel through the Earth's upper mantle and crust, leading to signal distortion due to the heterogeneity of rocks at this depth.
[8] Smaller nuclear detonation yields may also be hard to detect because they produce readings similar to small earthquakes or other natural events.