IGES Institute of Geophysics and Engineering Seismology after A. Nazarov

Armenian delegation in Beijing lays the groundwork for a joint seismic network

From 24 to 27 December 2018 an Armenian delegation visited Beijing at the invitation of the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) and its Institute of Geophysics. The delegation brought together the institute, the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the Science Committee of Armenia (today the Higher Education and Science Committee). The institute was represented by its director, Jon Karapetyan. The delegation also included Samvel Haroutiunian, Levon Tavadyan and Hripsime Mkrtchyan.

The goal was to build long-term cooperation in earthquake science: monitoring, research and the training of young specialists.

At the China Earthquake Administration

The talks took place under the flags of the two countries. The CEA Department of Earthquake Disaster Prevention presented China’s approach to reducing earthquake risk, and the Armenian side presented the institute and its plans.

Talks at the China Earthquake Administration, Beijing
Presentation by the CEA Department of Earthquake Disaster Prevention
Discussion with Chinese colleagues
Exchange of gifts: a pomegranate from Armenia
The institute presents its work
At the CEA exhibition
The CEA exhibition hall

At the Institute of Geophysics CEA

At the Institute of Geophysics the delegation presented the seismological and tectonic setting of Armenia, its seismic zoning map and the structure of the institute. One slide already showed the road ahead: China-Aid Earthquake Monitoring Network in Armenia → Chinese-Armenian Joint Laboratory. Chinese colleagues in turn shared their monitoring work in the Himalaya.

The slide that set the plan: a monitoring network in Armenia and a joint laboratory
“Seismological and tectonic condition of the territory of Armenia”
Armenia’s seismic zoning map on the screen
The Armenian delegation at the Institute of Geophysics: institute director Jon Karapetyan, H. Mkrtchyan, S. Haroutiunian and L. Tavadyan
Chinese colleagues present monitoring in the Himalaya
Working meeting at the Institute of Geophysics CEA
The planned Chinese–Armenian joint earthquake monitoring network
The delegation at a meeting in Beijing

What was proposed

  • A joint Chinese–Armenian earthquake monitoring network, starting with the first stations in northern Armenia
  • A joint international laboratory
  • Cooperation on seismic sensors
  • Exchange of young specialists, joint meetings and training
  • GNSS and magnetometric observations

A circle closes. In 1959 the Institute of Geophysics in Beijing ordered 20 multi-pendulum seismometers designed by Armen Nazaryan. Sixty years later the two institutes started building a network together.

What came next

In 2019–2020 seismologists of the Institute of Geophysics CEA came to Armenia for joint field work to choose station sites. In 2021 an Armenian–Chinese seminar in Gyumri prepared the network, and in 2025 the CHARNET centre opened in Gyumri.