Tsunami Warning System
Tsunami detection (picture from BBC News).
Tsunami Warning System (TWS) is available in the Pacific region to monitor seismological and tidal stations throughout the Pacific Basin. The system evaluates potentially tsunami-capable earthquakes and disseminats tsunami warning information.
By submarine earthquakes
DART buoy system in the Pacific Ocean (picture from NOAA).
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates two warning centers in the Pacific: (i) the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii and (ii) the Alaska Tsuanmi Warning Center (ATWC). Once an earthquake is detected capable of generating tsunami, an initial warning will be sent out. The buoy system (DART) throughout the Pacific Ocean detects sea levels in real time to confirm the generation of a tsunami and the second warning will be released.
Things to do in case of a tsunami
- Pay attention to national/natural warnings of an earthquake.
- Abandon belongings, save your life first, not your possessions.
- Go to upper floor or roof of a solid building.
- Or, as a last resort, climb a tall and strong tree or onto something that floats.
- Expect many waves. The next wave may be bigger and tsunami may last for hours.
- Don't count on roads. Roads may have been damaged by earthquakes.