U.S. Tsunami Warning System
Last Two Detection Buoys Installed in the South Pacific
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) completes their project of upgrading the U.S. tsunami warning system.
After the devastating Asian Tsunami hit the Indian Ocean on December 26 2004, NOAA came to the conclusion that the existing tsunami warning system in the U.S. needed to be upgraded.
Part of the project was the installation deep-ocean assessment and reporting of tsunami (DART) stations. They are buoys equipped with the latest technology for reporting real-time events through pressure sensors anchored on the ocean floor. The sensor broadcasts activity up to the buoy on the surface and then the date is relayed by satellite to NOAA.
On March 2008, the final two detection buoys were deployed near the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean. At one time, there were only six buoys located in the Pacific. Through this project, there are now 39 DART stations situated in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific.
According to Science Daily, other components of this project done by NOAA included:
- Upgraded/installed 49 tide gauges.
- Upgraded/installed 8 seismic stations.
- Developed 26 forecast models
- Implemented a new Tsunami Warning System
- Extended the operation of the warning centers to 24/7
- *Created an awareness system for tsunami-prone communities.
- Assisted Indonesia and Australia with the installation of their coastal tsunami warning systems.
* The TsunamiReady™ program was created by NOAA for educating the public on what to do when a tsunami warning is issued. State and local communities in coastal areas are encouraged to participate in the program.
