Tsunami Early Warning System

Baxter 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
Tidal
Surge
Underlying
Geological
Event Water
Displaced
Wave
Propagation
Tidal
Withdraw
Detection
Opportunities
Detection
Coastline
Activity
Wave
Activity
Geologic
Activity
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Current State of the Art
5,000 M
Surface Buoy
Hydrophone
Anchor
Tsunami
Detector
Acoustic Link
Satellite
Gonzalez, F.I. (1999): Tsunami!. Scientific American, 280(5), 56-65
Advantages & Drawbacks
Advantages
Deep water pressure
produces relatively low
false-positives as wind-
driven waves do not
generate deep pressure
differentials
Multiple sensors can
triangulate epicenter of
water displacement and
wave propagation can be
predicted.
Good advance warning
Drawbacks
Expensive equipment
High maintenance
Requires multiple
communication links:
Sonar
Satellite uplink
Satellite downlink
Last-mile notification to
authorities
Authorities must notify coastal
dwellers
Genesis Tsunami Coastal Alert
Deep sea pressure
Seismic
Events
Surface anomalies
Coastal
Alarm &
Detection
Leading Trough
The 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
Genesis Tsunami Coastal Alert
Anchor
Tsunami trough
threshold level
Receding sea
trigger
Anchor line under
constant spring
tension at buoy
Genesis Tsunami Coastal Alert
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
Genesis Tsunami Coastal Alert
Buoy measures tsunami
crest broadcasts satellite
data for emergency response
in other areas.
Advantages to Coastal Alert
Direct warning system in third world and
emerging industrial countries
Flares
Audible siren
Local RF broadcast on emergency marine VHF
channels and terrestrial radio
Can be activated in advance by RF or satellite
transmission if deep sea sensors forecast tsunami hit
in the area
Low Cost Design
No expensive off-shore installation and maintenance
Multi-use design can be used for navigation,
temperature readings, etc.
Ideal supplement to sophisticated deep sea
monitoring
Genesis Tsunami Offshore Alert
Responsive to seismic
event GTOA releases
non-buoyant pressure
sensors at multiple
depths below normal
wave action.
Genesis Tsunami Offshore Alert
Detachable
pressure sensors
Pressure changes
below predetermined
depth are indicators of
tsunami activity.
NOAAs DART system uses
pressure sensors that are
permanently mounted to seabed.
Prone to failure.
Genesis Tsunami Offshore Alert
Detachable
pressure sensors
Pressure changes
below predetermined
depth are indicators of
tsunami activity.
Seismic event detected
Genesis Offshore buoys drop
pressure sensors to multiple
depths.
Pressure Wave
Genesis Tsunami Offshore Alert
Detachable
pressure sensors
Pressure changes
below predetermined
depth are indicators of
tsunami activity.
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 End
Baxter Technologies