The real-time processing system for the Southern California Seismic Network occurs when data packets are shipped from more than 350 seismic stations throughout Southern California to both the Caltech Seismological Laboratory and the United States Geological Survey Pasadena Field Office. The data are then processed by two real-time computer systems (one primary and one back-up), at which time a location and magnitude are determined, and the data are stored temporarily in the real-time databases.

Real-time network schematic

The 350+ seismic stations are monitored by three real-time Systems Adminitrators, in addition to one Duty Operator, a rotating position between seismic analysts, systems analysts, and systems administrators, created to monitor the health of the network. The task of monitoring the health of the network is assisted by a platform independent, java-based program called SeisNet Watch, which contains a GUI that displays the state of each station. SeisNet Watch contains information relating to telemetry, data latency, sequence errors, clock quality, and mass position. Graphs, plots, histograms, and general information regarding station specifics are all available, in addition to links to station email update archives.

A screen shot of the SeisNet Watch GUI. Each entry represents a station, followed by a color, representing green for good performance, yellow for fair performance, and red for bad performance. A circle represents a station used for magnitude and locations, whereas an "L" represents a station used for location only, as seen below.