The seismic monitoring center at Sultan Qaboos University is one of the oldest research centers established at the university, which was started in the mid-1990s. The Center is considered one of the most important research centers and the only specialist in the Sultanate to monitor and research earthquakes. The Center monitors and monitors earthquakes that occur inside and outside the Sultanate, and report them and disseminate their data to the competent authorities Since its inception, the center has undergone several developmental stages. It has 20 monitoring stations distributed across different regions throughout the Sultanate, which were established in three stages and equipped with the latest monitoring, numbering and communication devices. The seismic information is transmitted 24 hours a day to the Seismic Monitoring Center at Sultan Qaboos University The staff of the scientific center includes a communications engineer, three geologists and a geophysicist, in addition to the director of the center, assisted by two administrators. The Center carries out the following national services Identification of seismic sites and measuring their strength in the different regions of the Sultanate and the preparation of seismic distribution maps in the Sultanate and the neighboring areas - Publication of the annual earthquakes bulletin in addition to the simplified manuals to explain earthquakes and their effects and how to deal with them - Spreading the culture and awareness of seismologists through the print, audio and visual media by conducting television and radio interviews and publishing articles in local and international newspapers and magazines - Provide consultations in the field of selecting the most suitable sites for the establishment of vital installations - Providing seismic risk assessment for specific sites -Participation in teaching in the Department of Earth Sciences in addition to training geophysics students on the equipment and research available at the Center - In addition to a number of scientific, local and international activities and we hope to develop the center to become one of the world centers of excellence in the field of earthquakes and seismic research in the next five-year plan.

Dr Issa El Hussain

Director

EMC is part of Sultan Qaboos University and it is one of ten research centers. The most work done in EMC  monitoring lab. It is a facility that provides equipment in which seismology , researchers can analyze earthquake  , and performed experiment. It has a set of receivers and network routers that receive data from seismic stations inside Oman and some other Gulf Cooperation Council. In addition to that earthquake monitoring center receive seismic data from  global seismic stations. It provide a group of workstation computers  that used for  gathering earthquake  seismic data ,  analyze earthquake automatically and manually. We use antelope software and seiscomp3. This software provide robust way to analyze earthquake data. The center has a class and meeting room . The center can provide  educational lectures, workshops and host conferences.

1- Add six new broadband seismic stations:
Broadband seismic stations are fundamental in earthquake monitoring and conducting seismological research.They provide valuable data for earthquake early warning systems and seismic hazard assessments.Increasing the number of stations will enable better seismic coverage and monitoring in that region and more precise location determination.

2- Add 100 strong-motion station:

Strong-motion stations are essential for monitoring earthquakes, emergency response planning, and implementing engineering measures to mitigate the impact of seismic waves on infrastructure. They provide valuable information to seismic studies and help improve the ability to design structures that help resist seismic forces.

The Arabian Plate is surrounded by regions of relatively high seismicity. Accounting for this seismicity is of great importance for seismic hazard and risk assessments, seismic zoning, and land use. In this study, a homogenous earthquake catalogue of moment-magnitude (Mw) for the Arabian Plate is provided. The comprehensive and homogenous earthquake catalogue provided in the current study spatially involves the entire Arabian Peninsula and neighboring areas, covering all earthquake sources that can generate substantial hazard for the Arabian Plate mainland. The catalogue extends in time from 19 to 2015 with a total number of 13,156 events, of which 497 are historical events. Four polygons covering the entire Arabian Plate were delineated and different data sources including special studies, local, regional and international catalogues were used to prepare the earthquake catalogue. Moment magnitudes (Mw) that provided by original sources were given the highest magnitude type priority and introduced to the catalogues with their references. Earthquakes with magnitude differ from Mw were converted into this scale applying empirical relationships derived in the current or in previous studies. The four polygons catalogues were included in two comprehensive earthquake catalogues constituting the historical and instrumental periods. Duplicate events were identified and discarded from the current catalogue. The present earthquake catalogue was declustered in order to contain only independent events and investigated for the completeness with time of different magnitude spans.

• Arabian Catalogue
• Focal Mechanism
• Catalogue Declustring 2015
• Final Historical Arabian

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This diagram illustrates how remote seismic monitoring stations are connected to the Earthquake Monitoring Center at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) through a satellite and OmanTel?s communication network.

1. Remote Stations: These stations record earthquake data and store it in a system powered by a solar battery. Data is transmitted through a VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) device, which uses satellite communication.

2. Satellite Connection: The remote stations send data to the satellite, which relays it to the monitoring center. This connection is established via a wireless signal linking the satellite and the remote stations.

3. Earthquake Monitoring Center (SQU): The center receives data from the stations through the satellite, using a dish connected to a modem. An analyst at the center reviews and analyzes the incoming data.

4. OmanTel: OmanTel?s network acts as an intermediary in the system, facilitating the data transmission from the satellite to the monitoring center. This system enables the monitoring center to receive real-time data from remote stations, helping in accurately monitoring seismic activity and analyzing information.

The image represents a map of Oman showing the distribution of seismic monitoring stations managed by the Earthquake Monitoring Center at Sultan Qaboos University. The stations are widely spread to cover various terrains and key regions across the country, with each station represented by a red triangle symbol.

Geographic Distribution Details:

1. Northern Regions: Several stations are located along the northern coast and in the Musandam Governorate, areas known for their proximity to the Iranian fault line, which makes them prone to seismic activity due to tectonic plate movements in the region.

2. Central Regions: Stations are spread throughout the interior of Oman, especially along the Al Hajar Mountains that run through the middle of the country. This area is important for monitoring as it contains natural rock fractures that could impact local seismic activity.

3. Southern Regions: Stations are also placed in the Dhofar region, extending along the southern coast and near the border with Yemen. This distribution enhances the center?s ability to monitor all regions, including less densely populated areas.