The complexity of CTBT verification. Taking noble gas monitoring as an example

Verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is a complex undertaking. A monitoring system comprising a global network of 321 seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide stations is used to detect signals that could indicate a possible nuclear explosion. This system daily sends more than 10 GB of raw data to the Vienna based International Data Centre for further processing and analysis to answer a simple question: have any indications for a possible nuclear explosion been sensed? We will focus on the 40 stations in charge for global radioxenon monitoring and discuss the complexity of solving the nuclear source attribution problem. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2008. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission.