San Marino scale

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The San Marino scale is an attempt to quantify messages, especially in the context of Active SETI or METI (Messaging to Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) , that are sent from Earth into space. It is mainly used by the members of the SETI program.

history

The San Marino scale was first presented in March 2005 by Ivan Almar at the 6th World Symposium on the Exploration of Space and Life in the Universe in San Marino (hence the name). In September 2007, at a meeting in Hyderabad , India , the IAA SETI Permanent Study Group officially adopted the San Marino scale as a tool for analyzing transmissions from Earth. Under the direction of Prof. Almar, members of the IAA SETI Permanent Study Group have been working on refining the San Marino scale, in particular to bring more objectivity to the individual assessment criteria.

meaning

Assuming a decision has been made to send a message into space, there is controversial discussion about how such a message should be structured. How should the transmission take place and what information should it contain? How far should humanity reveal itself to potential aliens? To assess the degree of this revelation, the San Marino scale was created. It should help to bring different contents into a scientifically sound relationship to one another. In addition, sending messages into space harbors certain dangers. The San Marino scale is also intended to help assess these dangers.

rating

Basics

The basics of the San Marino scale are based on the Richter scale (scale for assessing the strength of earthquakes). Your calculation system is strongly influenced by the Torino scale (scale for evaluating the threat from near-Earth asteroids) and the Rio scale (scale for evaluating the consequences of the discovery of an extraterrestrial signal). Partly based on the Richter scale, borrowed. Like the two previously mentioned scales, it uses a two-dimensional calculation system in which the signal strength, relative to the background radiation from our sun, is related on the one hand to the type and information content of the message on the other. The San Marino scale is then mathematically defined as follows:

SMI = I + C

In this formula, SMI (San Marino Index) stands for the value on the San Marino scale. I stands for the signal strength, relative to the background radiation from our sun at the same frequency and bandwidth as the signal. C stands for the characteristics of the message in relation to its information content. In particular, C is a very subjective point of view and therefore requires permanent revision and refinement, which can lead to the fact that the classification of a message on the San Marino scale can change over time.

rating scale

The rating scale of the San Marino scale is very closely related to the rating scale of the Rio scale , which was created earlier, also with the significant contribution of Ivan Almar . A crucial difference is that the San Marino scale starts at 1 and not at 0, since every signal sent reveals information on its own, without the content being deciphered. For example, the direction from which the signal comes or the method of transmission can provide information on the origin or the technological evolutionary stage of the sender. Therefore, a level 0 on the San Marino scale, which describes absolutely no relevance, would be pointless.

  • 1 = insignificant
  • 2 = low
  • 3 = low
  • 4 = moderate
  • 5 = average
  • 6 = remarkable
  • 7 = high
  • 8 = far-reaching
  • 9 = extraordinary
  • 10 = extraordinary

See also

literature

  • Iván Almár, Paul H. Shuch: The San Marino Scale: A new analytical tool for assessing transmission risk. Acta Astronautica, Vol. 60, Issue 1, pp. 57-59, 2007, abstract @ ads .

Web links