Armenia and China
Gyumri · Armenia · since 1961
Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia
Institute of Geophysics and Engineering Seismology after A. Nazarov
Physics of the Earth · Earthquake science
Earthquake of 8 March 2025, ML 4.8: epicentre, CHARNET stations and the record at station SHIK
Live
New · PuzzleForeshock or twin?
New · PuzzleForeshock, main shock, aftershock?
New · PuzzleCan a seismometer hear far and near at the same time?
NewA night tremor near Tsaghkunk
NewA night tremor near Eranos
NewA deep earthquake under Japan
NewAn earthquake nobody felt near Vanadzor
NewArmenian stations record the Mw 7.0 earthquake in Tibet
InnovationNew developments: synthetic accelerograms and magnetic precursors
Research
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Earthquake monitoring and seismicity
Where, when and why earthquakes happen. Real-time location of events, the national catalogue and bulletin, and studies of earthquake sources, aftershocks and seismic cycles in the Caucasus collision zone.
Laboratory Seismology and earthquake prediction
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Geophysical data science and AI
Turning continuous geophysical records into knowledge: machine learning for detecting and characterising earthquakes, numerical modelling of geophysical fields and well-curated open data.
Laboratory Mathematical geophysics and geoinformatics
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Geophysical instruments and metrology
Reliable observations start with reliable sensors: design, testing and calibration of seismic, strong-motion and water level instruments for networks, boreholes and structures.
Laboratory Geophysical instrument engineering and metrology
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Seismic hazard and ground motion
From earthquake sources to expected shaking: probabilistic and scenario-based hazard, ground-motion models, site effects and microzonation that support building codes and land-use planning.
Laboratory Engineering seismology, analysis of seismic actions and seismic hazard assessment
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Earthquake engineering and structural resilience
How the built environment responds to earthquakes: structural dynamics, vibration testing and instrumental monitoring of buildings, bridges and dams, and assessment of unstable slopes.
Laboratory Seismic resistance of structures and building constructions
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Exploration and applied geophysics
Imaging the subsurface for safe construction and sustainable use of resources, from site investigations for buildings and dams to regional and mining geophysics.
Laboratory Exploration geophysics
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Crustal structure and geodynamics
Why the crust beneath Armenia deforms: deep structure of the lithosphere, active faults and present-day motions within the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone.
Laboratory Structural geophysics, deep processes and geodynamics
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Geomagnetism and space weather
The Earth’s magnetic field from seconds to millennia: continuous observatory measurements, geomagnetic variations, space weather and paleomagnetism.
Laboratory Geomagnetism
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Groundwater, environment and precursors
Groundwater as a sensor of the crust: long-term monitoring of wells and boreholes, multi-parameter studies of earthquake precursors and environmental geophysics.
Laboratory Hydrogeodynamics and environmental geophysics
P-waves pass through the whole Earthplate boundariesS-waves stop at the liquid core
Astrophysics looks out to the stars. Geophysics looks into the Earth.
Inside the Earth
No one has ever drilled deeper than 12 km. Everything we know about the deep Earth comes from seismic waves, the same waves our stations record every day. Look inside, or turn to the surface: volcanoes, collisions and rifts.
0–70 kmSolid rock · up to about 1,000 °C at its base
IGESThe earthquakes our network records in Armenia happen here: the tremors near Vanadzor and Tsaghkunk were about 10 km deep. We locate them, map active faults and study how the ground shakes under buildings.
70–2,900 kmHot solid rock that flows very slowly · about 1,000–3,700 °C
IGESIts slow movement drives the plates. The Arabian plate pushes north into Eurasia, and this collision is why Armenia has earthquakes. We follow it with seismic waves and geodynamic measurements.
2,900–5,150 kmLiquid iron and nickel · about 4,000–5,000 °C
IGESThe flowing metal creates the Earth’s magnetic field. Our geomagnetic observatory in Gyulagarak measures this field every second. S-waves cannot pass through liquid, so they stop here.
5,150–6,371 kmSolid iron, kept solid by enormous pressure · about 5,000 °C, close to the surface of the Sun
IGESWaves from distant earthquakes, like the ones we recorded from Japan and Tibet, travel through the deep Earth before they reach our stations, and they carry information about it.
Layers to scale except the crust, which is drawn thicker to be visible.
Volcano
Ararat and Aragats
Ararat, 5,137 m, is a dormant volcano and the highest peak of the Armenian Highland. Aragats, 4,090 m, the highest peak of Armenia, is an ancient volcano; our Byurakan seismic station stands on its slope.
Collision of plates
Arabia meets Eurasia
The Arabian plate moves north into Eurasia by about 2 cm a year. This collision raised the Caucasus and the Armenian Highland, and it causes the earthquakes we record.
Plates sliding past
North Anatolian Fault
Here the plates slide past each other: Anatolia moves west along Eurasia by about 2 cm a year. In 1999 this fault produced the magnitude 7.6 İzmit earthquake.
Active volcano · Volcano
Etna, Sicily
About 3,300 m high, Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and erupts several times a year.
Active volcano · Rift: plates moving apart
Iceland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates move apart. On the Reykjanes Peninsula lava fissures have opened many times since 2021.
Rift: plates moving apart
East African Rift
Africa is slowly splitting in two. The rift widens by a few millimetres a year, and in millions of years a new ocean may open here.
Collision of plates
India meets Asia
India pushes into Asia by about 4 cm a year. The collision built the Himalaya and Everest, 8,849 m, the highest point on Earth.
Subduction: one plate under another
Japan Trench
The Pacific plate dives beneath Japan by about 8 cm a year. In 2011 this boundary produced the magnitude 9.0 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
Active volcano · Volcano
Sakurajima, Japan
Small explosive eruptions almost every day. The volcano sits where the Philippine Sea plate sinks beneath Japan.
Active volcano · Volcano
Cotopaxi, Ecuador
At 5,897 m, one of the highest active volcanoes on Earth, fed by the Nazca plate sinking beneath South America.
Red lines: plate boundaries. Earth image: NASA Blue Marble. Plate boundaries: P. Bird (2003), PB2002.
Structure of the institute
Select a branch to see its units.
IGES
Director · Scientific Board · Directorate
Research laboratories
- Structural geophysicsLaboratory of Structural Geophysics, Deep Processes and GeodynamicsStructure of the crust, deep processes, active faults and present-day movements.
- SeismologyLaboratory of Seismology and Earthquake PredictionRecording and locating earthquakes, seismicity and the search for precursors.
- Exploration geophysicsLaboratory of Exploration GeophysicsGeophysical surveys of building sites, deposits and dams.
- GeomagnetismLaboratory of GeomagnetismThe Earth’s magnetic field, observatory measurements and magnetic variations.
- HydrogeodynamicsLaboratory of Hydrogeodynamics and Environmental GeophysicsGroundwater as an earthquake precursor and environmental studies.
- GeoinformaticsLaboratory of Mathematical Geophysics and GeoinformaticsModelling, data processing and geographic information systems.
- Engineering seismologyLaboratory of Engineering Seismology, Analysis of Seismic Actions and Seismic Hazard AssessmentStrong ground motion and seismic hazard assessment.
- Seismic resistanceLaboratory of Seismic Resistance of Structures and Building ConstructionsHow buildings and structures behave in earthquakes and how to make them safer.
- Instrument engineeringLaboratory of Geophysical Instrument Engineering and MetrologyDesign, calibration and maintenance of geophysical instruments.
Network, centres and observatory
Since 2024
Joint Geoscience Centre
Xi’an Center of Geological SurveyChina Geological SurveyGyulagarak, Lori region
Complex geophysical observatory
Geomagnetic observatory GLKGyulagarak, Lori region Geodynamic test siteWith JINR, DubnaEducation and support
- Specialization board 040 “Geophysics”
- Master’s and postgraduate studies
- Library
- Production workshop
- Earthquake Science Museum
0years of research since 1961
0seismic stations of CHARNET
0research laboratories
0observation systems
CHARNET monitoring network
China–Armenia Seismic, Strong-Motion and Geodynamic Network
The Armenian–Chinese network works together with the Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing. Nine stations across Armenia stream data in real time to the Gyumri data centre, which also runs earthquake early warning.
- 5
- integrated stations: broadband seismometer, accelerometer, GNSS, weather sensor
- 4
- short-period stations
- 1
- data centre in Gyumri with early warning
Real-time Magnetic Observatory
Continuous recording of the Earth’s magnetic field in Gyulagarak, Lori region. The Armenian–Russian observatory publishes its data openly.
- IAGA code
- GLK
- Address
- Gyulagarak, Lori region
- Coordinates
- 40°56′14.3″ N, 44°28′29.6″ E
- Open data
- DOI 10.2205/GLK2020
Joint Laboratory of China and Armenia for Earthquake Monitoring and Modeling
The laboratory unites IGES (founded in 1961) and the Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration (IGP, founded in 1950) in earthquake monitoring, data analysis and modelling.
News
All newsA night tremor near Tsaghkunk
A small earthquake (ML 2.0) near Tsaghkunk in Gegharkunik province, 7 km west of Sevan, recorded by the CHARNET network at 03:49 local time on 28 October.
A night tremor near Eranos
A small earthquake (ML 1.3) 15 km north-west of Eranos in Gegharkunik province, recorded by the CHARNET network at 03:11 local time on 26 October.
A deep earthquake under Japan
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake 490 km beneath the Bonin Islands, south of Japan. Its waves reached Armenia, 8,400 km away, in less than eleven minutes.
Find us
- Address
- 5 V. Sargsyan St, Gyumri, Armenia
- Phone
- (+374 312) 31261
- Coordinates
- 40°48′32.0″ N, 43°50′46.3″ E
Write to us
Your message goes directly to the institute’s official address. We will reply by email.
iges@sci.am