tsunami tews

Tsunami Early Warning SystemBaxter Technologies

© 2005 Baxter Technologies.Confidential Presentation – not for third party dissemination

Tsunami

A sea wave of local or distant origin that results from large-scale seafloor displacements associated with large earthquakes, major submarine slides, or exploding volcanic islands.

Regular Wind Generated Wave

10 Feet

300 Feet

Speed: 10-20 mph

Tsunami in Deep Ocean

1-2 Feet

316,800 Feet

Speed: 450-650 mph

Tsunami Approaching Shore

10-100+ Feet

5,000 – 10,000 Feet

Speed: 35-220 mph

Tsunami Cycle

TidalTidalSurgeSurge

UnderlyingUnderlyingGeologicalGeological

EventEvent WaterWaterDisplacedDisplaced

Wave Wave PropagationPropagation

TidalTidalWithdrawWithdraw

Detection Opportunities

Detection

CoastlineActivity

Wave Activity

Geologic Activity

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

Current State of the Art

5,000 M

Surface Buoy

Hydrophone

Anchor

TsunamiDetector

Acoustic Link

Satellite

Gonzalez, F.I. (1999): Tsunami!. Scientific American, 280(5), 56-65

Advantages & Drawbacks• AdvantagesAdvantages

– Deep water pressure Deep water pressure produces relatively low produces relatively low false-positives as wind-false-positives as wind-driven waves do not driven waves do not generate deep pressure generate deep pressure differentialsdifferentials

– Multiple sensors can Multiple sensors can triangulate epicenter of triangulate epicenter of water displacement and water displacement and wave propagation can be wave propagation can be predicted.predicted.

– Good advance warningGood advance warning

• DrawbacksDrawbacks– Expensive equipmentExpensive equipment– High maintenanceHigh maintenance– Requires multiple Requires multiple

communication links:communication links:• SonarSonar• Satellite uplinkSatellite uplink• Satellite downlinkSatellite downlink• Last-mile notification to Last-mile notification to

authoritiesauthorities• Authorities must notify coastal Authorities must notify coastal

dwellersdwellers

Genesis Tsunami Coastal Alert

Deep sea pressureDeep sea pressure

SeismicSeismicEventsEvents

Surface anomaliesSurface anomalies

Coastal Coastal Alarm & Alarm & DetectionDetection

Leading TroughThe receding sea that precedes a tsunami

• Near-shore subsidence facilitate tsunami penetration inland • Theoretical predictions* and field surveys indicate that

coastal run-up and inundation will be greater if the trough of the leading wave precedes the crest

* Raissa Mazova of the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University in Russia and by Costas Synolakis of the University of Southern California


Anchor

Tsunami trough threshold level

Receding sea trigger

Anchor line under constant spring tension at buoy


Anchor

Tsunami trough threshold level

Tsunami trough(receding sea)

Tension in anchor line pulls buoy

into contact with trigger

Flares ignited to signal coastal communities

Satellite, RF, audible alarms execute responsive to

contact with trigger


Buoy measures tsunami crest – broadcasts satellite

data for emergency response in other areas.

Advantages to Coastal Alert• Direct warning system in third world and Direct warning system in third world and

emerging industrial countriesemerging industrial countries– FlaresFlares– Audible sirenAudible siren– Local RF broadcast on emergency marine VHF Local RF broadcast on emergency marine VHF

channels and terrestrial radiochannels and terrestrial radio– Can be activated in advance by RF or satellite Can be activated in advance by RF or satellite

transmission if deep sea sensors forecast tsunami hit transmission if deep sea sensors forecast tsunami hit in the areain the area

• Low Cost DesignLow Cost Design– No expensive off-shore installation and maintenanceNo expensive off-shore installation and maintenance– Multi-use design – can be used for navigation, Multi-use design – can be used for navigation,

temperature readings, etc.temperature readings, etc.• Ideal supplement to sophisticated deep sea Ideal supplement to sophisticated deep sea

monitoringmonitoring

Genesis Tsunami Offshore Alert

Responsive to seismic event GTOA releases non-buoyant pressure sensors at multiple depths below normal wave action.


Detachable pressure sensors

Pressure changes below predetermined depth are indicators of tsunami activity.

NOAA’s DART system uses pressure sensors that are permanently mounted to seabed. Prone to failure.




Seismic event detected – Genesis Offshore buoys drop pressure sensors to multiple depths.

Pressure Wave




Pressure readings are relayed to monitoring station. Multiple readings provide more accurate analysis of deep pressure readings.

Satellite

Genesis Drop Sensor

Lead weight is adjusted so that rate of decent is

controlled so that multiple sensors reach their operating

depth in synchronization.

Sensor is maintained above waterline before release. No fouling or damage from deep

sea mounting.

Pressure transducer supplied by Paroscientific, Inc. –

Quartz crystal detection of flex of Bourdon tube.

Telemetry and support line.

Genesis Tsunami Offshore Alert• No permanent seabed pressure sensor• Pressure readings at multiple depths• Pressure transducer equipment kept out of

hostile environment until deployed• Redundancy if a sensor fails• Lower false positives• No ROV needed for maintenance or

deployment

Genesis Tsunami System• Costal detection and notification• Offshore monitoring and early warning• Integrated systems provide prediction,

notification and warning in a single package.

• Low costs for deployment and maintenance

• Superior data capture and uptime

The EndBaxter Technologies

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