Populations who live at the shore and coastal areas are at risk, especially in the ring of fire area. They should be alarmed because an earthquake may bring a tsunami, a huge wave that can sweep the area. Therefore, people must be familiar with earthquake and tsunami warning systems.
This system allows people to get notifications on their phone when an earthquake happens. Earthquakes are one of the tsunami sources that can happen after that. With the warning system, they can flee to an evacuation or safer area. How does it work for communities and authorities?
The Work of Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Systems
1. Detecting the Earthquake
Countries with the risk of earthquakes could predict the scale of earthquakes through seismometers. These devices will detect the shake in the earthquake zone. After that, the authority analyzes the seismic data, such as magnitude, precise location, scale, and depth.
After that, the systems would model the characteristics of the earthquake whether or not to result in the tsunami waves after that. Higher magnitude may trigger the friction of the sea bed which causes a tsunami in less than 10 minutes. This decision is automated in earthquake and tsunami warning systems.
2. Detecting the Tsunami
After the result of earthquake detection is out, the sensors of the tsunami can detect the possibility of a tsunami possibility. The warning systems include the buoys in the ocean. When the buoys go higher, it means there is a sudden change because of the earthquake.
Buoys will send the report to the DART system through the satellite. When the system shows that there is huge pressure in the report, the possibility of a tsunami can be huge. Thus, satellite data will also help the DART system to receive some additional information, such as the direction and size of the tsunami.
3. Sending the Warning
Once the result of tsunami modeling is out and shows that a tsunami is potentially coming, the warning system will issue the warning. Through messages, the system will send the warning to all communities who live at the shore and coastal area and tell them to evacuate as soon as possible.
The warning itself should be very fast, so people can go to the evacuation area in less than ten minutes. It is because a tsunami can move faster, even up to 800 km per hour. So, it also relies on earthquake and tsunami warning tools.
The Challenge of Warning Systems
1. Supported infrastructure
The main challenge of earthquake and tsunami warning systems is infrastructure. The countries with the most shoreline around the ring of fire may need a lot of warning tools. The authorities must maintain the quality of the tools, so they can stay accurate, trusted, and reliable.
2. Historical data availability
It is easier to understand and predict when a tsunami will come when historical data in that area is longer and more accurate. Sometimes, the big challenge is availability. Some countries may not be able to collect older data in the past because of their limitations.
3. Sustainability
These warning systems need high maintenance which also needs high funding. It is very expensive to make it work, especially real-time monitoring. Commitment from local authorities is required since the funding should be consistent.
4. Accuracy of warning systems
Earthquakes may bring a tsunami, but it does not always. Sometimes, the shake is light and still triggers the buoys to detect the potential of a tsunami. From time to time, local authorities examine the complexity of how it works, so that it can work with great accuracy.
5. Awareness from communities
Even though the notifications have been sent to the society, there is a possibility that people may not act fast. This is the challenge that authorities face because the warning systems will not work at all.
6. The price of the device
Some devices are too expensive and the nation has to prepare a big budget to purchase. However, SMS broadcasters are way more affordable and can send pop-up messages to communities with warnings about earthquakes and tsunamis.
Earthquake and tsunami warning systems should be accurate and fast when they deliver notifications. Authorities need to choose the best SMS Broadcaster to help people who live at the shore mitigate and evacuate. Find out the best device to broadcast here.
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