The USArray component of the NSF-funded EarthScope project ended its observational period in September 2021 and all remaining close-out tasks concluded in March 2022. Hundreds of seismic stations were transferred to other operators and continue to collect scientific observations. This USArray.org website is now in an archival state and will no longer be updated. To learn more about this project and the science it continues to enable, please view publications here: http://usarray.org/researchers/pubs and citations of the Transportable Array network DOI 10.7914/SN/TA.

To further advance geophysics support for the geophysics community, UNAVCO and IRIS are merging. The merged organization will be called EarthScope Consortium. As our science becomes more convergent, there is benefit to examining how we can support research and education as a single organization to conduct and advance cutting-edge geophysics. See our Joining Forces website for more information. The site earthscope.org will soon host the new EarthScope Consortium website.

USArray
A Continental-scale Seismic Observatory

Facilities

USArray is managed by the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS). Community input is received via the IRIS Board of Directors and the Transportable Array and Electromagnetic Advisory Committees. The USArray organizational structure has been designed to leverage the experience and facilities that already exist within IRIS. USArray activities are performed at several primary locations and all components are managed by experienced personnel.

Headquarters

IRIS headquarters, located in Washington, DC, is responsible for overall project management and siting outreach activities.

Alaska Operation Center

The AOC, located in Anchorage, AK, handles the shipment of equipment and the construction and installation of stations in Alaska and Western Canada for the Transportable Array as well as site reconnaissance, permitting, and related logistics.

The IRIS Data Management Center

The IRIS DMC, located in Seattle, WA, archives and distributes all EarthScope seismic and magnetotelluric data. The collection, distribution, and archiving of USArray data are based on procedures developed by the IRIS Data Management System (DMS).

The Array Operations Facility (AOF)

AOF, located at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM, is responsible for most aspects of purchasing, delivery, checkout, and final integration of Transportable Array and Flexible Array equipment.

Array Network Facility (ANF)

ANF is responsible for real-time receipt of data from the Transportable Array and the telemetered Flexible Array stations. This facility provides station control and oversight as well as quality control of the data. ANF provides the correct metadata so that the DMC can distribute the array data in real time. This facility is located at IGPP/SIO, University of California, San Diego.

Transportable Array Coordinating Office (TACO)

TACO, operated by New Mexico Tech in Soccorro, NM, coordinates activities for Transportable Array site reconnaissance, permitting, and related logistics.

Magnetotelluric Depot

This facility, operated by Oregon State University, provides a depot for field operations and support for both the magnetotelluric backbone and magnetotelluric transportable activities.