Official information

Seismic observations on Kola Peninsula was started in 1956 when Apatity seismic station was founded by Georgy Panasenko. In 1960 seismology laboratory of Polar Geophysical Institute of Kola Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences was created on the base of the station. In 1975 the laboratory of seismology become a part of Geological Institute of Kola Branch of RAS.

In 1980th the laboratory started an active work for installation of seismic network in territories of Kola Peninsula, Kareliya, Archangelsk region and Spitsbergen. The need in seismic monitoring of Murmansk region was caused by increased number of potentially dangerous objects such as Kola Nuclear Power Plant, nuclear objects of North fleet etc. Increased mining activity caused need to study technogenic or induced seismisity.

As the result the decision was made to organize Kola Regional Seismological Centre (KRSC) for making seismic monitoring and seismic risk evaluation for North Russia. It was created on October 31, 1991 and operated as independent institute of Kola Branch of RAS. Ph.D. Igor Kuzmin was appointed director.

Since 1 April 1999 Kola Regional Seismological Centre was excluded from Kola Branch of RAS and included to Geophysical Survey of RAS.

Since 2005 KRSC was renamed into Kola Branch of Geophysical Survey of RAS.