Tsunami Warning Systems

Tsunamis are feared natural disasters. Tsunamis devastate people of towns killing millions leaving kids without parents and people without homes potentially crushing them like a block. People have throughout history want to know, how they can have future notice when a Tsunami is heading their way to get out of its raging waves way. They want to be warned. Scientists are wondering the same thing and are trying to answer the cries of help from people all over the world.

A Tsunami is a gigantic wall of water flattening everything in its path. Tsunamis are most frequently caused by a deep-sea earthquake but can also be caused by volcanic eruptions, landslides and meteorites. But what my main focus is deep-sea earthquakes, also known as a slip of tectonic plates. If the earthquake happens under the ocean/sea floor there is often a tsunami but if it happens in a land locked country almost never a tsunami. The most heavily impacted area are areas surrounding the Pacific plate also known as the "Ring of Fire." 

(As shown in this picture)

 The "Ring of Fire" is an area known for earthquakes, which is located in the Pacific plate resulting in the worst of the worst Tsunamis. What happens is that the earthquake occurs lifting up the sea floor making a wave that over time speeds up and increases in size by a lot-making a Tsunami.

The most recent Tsunami taking place in the Ring of Fire was in 2011 in Japan with a massive earthquake of 9.0 magnitudes. The after math bombed Japan with one massive tsunami and several other aftershocks. Sadly there were no warnings except for a siren. You would think that that would do it but the siren only sounded when the tsunami arrived so people weren't forewarned. 

NOAA is a corporation that is trying to prevent incidents like this from happening. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has created a warning system that forewarns countries when a disastrous Tsunami is heading their way. The system is called the DART system, Deep ocean assessment and reporting of Tsunami. How it works is that a ship drops off a surface buoy and a bottom pressure recorder. Also a satellite is launched into the atmosphere. When the bottom pressure buoy gets motion and large waves that send the information to the surface buoy which send it to the satellite informing all warning centers. 

This link is a simulation which shows you how it works. http://nctr.pmel.noaa.gov/Mov/DART_04.swf

NOAA corporation made the warning system and planted them in area where earthquakes were apparent. NOAA not only made the systems but they also made signs to get away from the Tsunami and direction to higher ground. 

Since the invention of this warning systems now scientists and people are asking, Is this changing the number of fatalities? Since the DART program is so new and had recently been imported to countries and now is just beginning it use scientist are unsure. They can't tell yet with such the little time that it has been put to use. But if you just use your common sense you could just guess and say that “Yes this does change the number of deaths because now people have more time to get to higher ground and saved their loved ones." This is a reasonable answer but there is also the possibility that the warning center gets the warning that there will be a Tsunami (from the satellite). But how do we make sure that the center gets the news out fast enough to people. They could broadcast it to live T.V and for those watching the news will get the information and the news will be passed by word of mouth. For those on the beach lifeguard would evacuate the area. This is a very easy possibility. But we cannot be sure, we will just have to wait and see what the future brings us.