HISTORY AND OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY OF THE ETHIOPIAN SEISMIC STATION NETWORK (ESSN)

Abstract

Together with the three component short period WWSSN analog station operating at the
Geophysical Observatory (AAE), five seismic stations are running in the country. FURI is one of the four
three-component digital stations with a GURALP CMG 3T and STS1 broadband sensors. The other three
seismic stations at Wendogenet, Dessie and Alemaya are equipped with Le -3d/5s seismometers with
RefTek Data Acquisition Systems (DASs), which provide semi-broadband signals. Except AAE, all
stations use GPS receivers for accurate timing and provide three-component digital record. Digital data
facilitate quick interpretations of seismic signals using computers. The seismic stations are in a good
position to date to monitor major seismic activities of the Ethiopian rift. The earthquake locations
estimated using data from our own network are found to be reliable with reasonable accuracy. A total
of 15 earthquakes are located in this pilot study of which only four are captured by the USGS (United
States Geological Survey) bulletin and all lie along the rift in Afar and the main Ethiopian rift system.