Joint Geological and Geophysical Research Station
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The Joint Geological and Geophysical Research Station (JGGRS) is a United States Air Force-controlled nuclear detonation detection system facility originally intended as part of a network of seismic monitoring systems for nuclear explosions, initially created in 1955, and located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.[1][2] It is one of four known joint American-Australian military intelligence facilities in Australia, with the other three being Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap in the nearby community of Hugh, Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt in Exmouth, Western Australia and the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station (ADSCS) in Kojarena, Western Australia.[3][4] JGGRS is located within Alice Springs, at the foot of ANZAC Hill.[5] In addition to the role of JGGRS in observing of nuclear events, it serves as a full seismological monitoring station for Australia.[6]
History
Summarize
Perspective
The JGGRS was established in 1955 under the Fraser government of Australia, led by then-Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Fraser.[4] Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke noted that JGGRS and facilities like Pine Gap should not be used to claim protection from American nuclear deterrence without contribution to the efforts, such as hosting the facilities that support the nuclear strategy.[7] The facility was initially opened under the United States Air Force and the Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR), which evolved later to become Geoscience Australia.[8][9] The prior BMR described JGGRS as:
"Australian Seismological Centre within the BMR receives all of the seismic data from JGGRS over a dedicated telecom (sic) landline. These data, which are unclassified, are processed in Canberra and are used to provide information both to Australian seismologists and international seismological agencies. As well, it provides one source of seismic information used by the Australian government in its capacity to independently monitor underground nuclear explosions as a positive contribution to the attainment of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)." (BMR, pers comm, 1990).[8]
Tom Gilling, writing in Project Rainfall: The Secret History of Pine Gap, was cited by Alice Spring News as highlighting the 'existential threat to Alice Springs' from the proximity of Pine Gap and JGGRS to the community.[10][7] MRA Ström, in The Role of the Defence Sector in the Regional Economy of Central Australia for Australian National University, noted that the JGGRS position in Alice Springs was for strategic rather than economic reasons, and that in ways disconnected the facility from equitably improving the local economy that hosts it.[8]
Administration
In 1978, an agreement was struck that Australian staff could participate in JGGRS operations.[8] Then-Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson in 2007 issued a statement that JGGRS was "jointly operated by Geoscience Australia and the US Air Force".[11]
Geosciences Australia and reporting by Richard Tanter in 2021 states the JGGRS is administered and controlled jointly by the American Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) and Geoscience Australia.[1][12] However, later reporting by Tanter indicates that GeoScience Australia has no role in the administration of the JGGRS.[4] As of 2021, it was reported that no Australian staff control JGGRS, which is administered entirely by United States Armed Forces members belonging to AFTAC's 709th Technical Maintenance Squadron, Detachment 421.[4][2] Detachment 421's function, according to the United States Air Force, is administration of JGGRS.[2]
Function and design
In addition to the role of JGGRS in monitoring of nuclear incidents, it serves as a full seismological monitoring station for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and explosions.[6] Data from JGGRS is immediately transferred to American AFTAC facilities at Patrick Space Force Base in Brevard County, Florida, in the United States, and then to GeoScience Australia and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna, Austria.[4] On Septemeber 3 2017, JGGRS was the first intelligence monitoring facility to detect that year's nuclear weapons test by North Korea.[3][13]
Engineers Australia noted in 2012 that the JGGRS consisted of nineteen (19) boreholes, each with a seismometer, in the area known as Schwarz Crescent in Alice Springs.[5]
See also
References
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