Review under way on array that detects nuclear tests
The United Kingdom commissioned an independent assessment of technical options to reduce ground-vibration interference at the Eskdalemuir seismic array in Scotland, a key sensor for detecting underground nuclear tests. The Ministry of Defence and energy department are evaluating proposals including deeper borehole-mounted detectors and digital signal processing while measuring any effect on the array’s monitoring performance. Wind turbine vibration currently influences development restrictions around the facility, which contributes data to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation’s international network. Officials have not approved a replacement technology, and the review will inform future safeguarding decisions rather than immediately removing existing restrictions.