Geoseries #8: A Journey through Nepal’s CORS Network: Insights and Experiences with John Galetzka

Date: 22 December 2023, Friday
Time: 7-9 PM (NPT)

Introduction about the Speaker

Mr. John Galetzka currently serves as the Chief of the Geodetic Infrastructure Branch in the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), USA. He pursued his studies in Geological and Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon in 1993. Since 2000, he has been actively engaged in Nepal, where he installed, maintained, and operated CORS stations (continuously running GNSS stations), undertaking responsibilities such as data downloading on behalf of UNAVCO (now Earthscope), Caltech (California Institute of Technology), Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) in Nepal, and Tribhuvan University (TU).
Nepal boasted over 50 successfully operating CORS networks owned by DMG at one point. This CORS network was established to investigate earthquakes, crustal motion, the geology of the Himalayas, tectonics, and more. Numerous research projects and scientific papers, utilizing data from this network, were conducted by professors and researchers from institutions such as UNAVCO, Caltech, and others. Mr. Galetzka brings a wealth of experience, being an integral part of this CORS network in Nepal.

Recording Video:

In this episode, John Galetzka mainly highlighted the history of the CORS network, its strengths, its contributions to Himalayan geology and seismology, the scientific findings it facilitated, the reasons behind its transition to an inactive state, and considerations for its future direction.

Event Photos: