Azerbaijan, United States to continue to study dangerous geological processes

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Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) and the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have signed an international memorandum of understanding.

 

The document provides for the creation of a joint international laboratory of geophysics and geodynamics. The purpose of the memorandum is the continuation of the study of dangerous geological processes in active tectonic zones.

 

In this regard, the Presidium of ANAS held a meeting with a delegation led by the head of the MIT “Geodynamics of the eastern Mediterranean and Caucasus” project Robert Reilinger.

 

The president of ANAS, academician Akif Alizadeh spoke about the connections of the academy with MIT and reported that joint research in the fields of geodynamics and seismology have been carried out so far, GPS (Global Positioning System) stations and observation points have been installed on the territory of Azerbaijan.

 

He added that scientists observe the processes occurring in the Earth’s crust by using a special satellite GPS-system and analyze the received information.

 

The young workers of the academy have been sent to MIT courses for training in this area.

 

Successful collaboration is currently creating opportunities for further expansion of ties. The memorandum is an initiative arising from this possibility, Alizadeh said.

 

He noted that the study of risks in oil and gas areas, landslide processes, the dynamics of mud volcanoes and others will be possible within the framework of the lab.

 

Reilinger spoke about the successful trials conducted in the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, and expressed satisfaction with the cooperation with Azerbaijani scientists in this field. He believes that it is appropriate to continue the studies using more modern methods.

 

Reilinger said that the memorandum will serve for co-operation and facilitation of the process of exchange.

 

Head of the department on earth sciences Fahraddin Gadirov and Robert Reilinger were appointed coordinators of the work by the ANAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics and by MIT respectively.

 

Trend/az