IRIS is a university research consortium dedicated to exploring the Earth's interior through the collection and distribution of seismographic data. IRIS programs contribute to scholarly research, education

Education

Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...

, earthquake

Earthquake

An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...

 hazard mitigation, and the verification of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 September 1996 but it has not entered into force.-Status:...

. Support for IRIS comes from the National Science Foundation

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...

, other federal agencies, universities, and private foundations

Foundation (charity)

A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....

. IRIS supports four major components, the Data Management System, the Program for Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere (PASSCAL), the Global Seismographic Network, and the Education and Outreach Program. IRIS maintains a Corporate Office in Washington, DC.

See also

• Seismology
  Seismology
  Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
  
  
• Earthquake
  Earthquake
  An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
  
  
• Geophysics
  Geophysics
  Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
  
  
• Plate tectonics
  Plate tectonics
  Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
  
  
• Reflection seismology
  Reflection seismology
  Reflection seismology is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflected seismic waves. The method requires a controlled seismic source of energy, such as dynamite/Tovex, a specialized air gun or a...
  
  
• Seismometer
  Seismometer
  Seismometers are instruments that measure motions of the ground, including those of seismic waves generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other seismic sources...
  
  
• Volcanology
  Volcanology
  Volcanology is the study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and related geological, geophysical and geochemical phenomena. The term volcanology is derived from the Latin word vulcan. Vulcan was the ancient Roman god of fire....
  
  
• Earthscope
  Earthscope
  EarthScope is an earth science program using geological and geophysical techniques to explore the structure and evolution of the North American continent and to understand the processes controlling earthquakes and volcanoes. Thousands of geophysical instruments will comprise a dense grid covering...
  
  
• POLARIS
  POLARIS (seismology)
  POLARIS is an underground experiment to observe seismic signals at depth in very hard rock. It is one of the current projects at SNOLAB in Canada....
  
  

External links

• Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS)
• Global Seismographic Network (GSN)
• Program for Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere (PASSCAL)
• IRIS PASSCAL Instrument Center at New Mexico Tech
• IRIS Data Management System
• IRIS Education & Outreach
• IRIS Seismic Monitor
• IRIS Seismology Software and Manuals
• EarthScope
• SeismoArchives - Seismogram Archives of Significant Earthquakes of the World