Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory

The Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory (PMGO) has the responsibility of conducting seismic surveillance of one of the most seismically-active parts of the world, the Papua New Guinea region. A nation-wide network of seismograph and accelerograph stations has developed since the establishment of the Observatory in 1957.

PMGO has close links with other similar institutions, including the National Earthquake Information Service (NEIS) of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Geoscience Australia (GA), the Harvard University Seismological Centre, the Comprehensive nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC).

Seismic data and results of analysis are exchanged freely between PMGO and these organisations in global collaborative efforts to monitor and map the distribution of seismic activity in the PNG region. From these primary surveillance operations stems a number of community- and industry-related applications, as discussed below.

Primary Surveillance Operations

• Monitoring
• Earthquake Mapping

• PNG Seismotectonics and Structure
• Seismic Hazard/Risk
• Tsunami Hazard/Risk