Algorithms for Automatic, Real-Time Tsunami Detection in Sea Level Measurements

Abstract

Automatic, real-time tsunami detection in sea-level measurements is a main component of a tsunami early warning system (TEWS). Although a great effort has been recently undertaken by the scientific and engineering community in developing new technologies (e.g. satellite altimetry, detectors of low-frequency elastic oscillations associated to a tsunami) capable of increasing the awareness of potential tsunamis in the minimum amount of time, at present direct detection in sea level measurements is still the main mean to confirm their actual generation and propagation. Clearly, the device used to collect these measurements has to be chosen between those equippedwith sensors capable of detecting sea-level oscillationswithin the tsunami frequency band. At present, the main devices that can be actually used should belong to the following classes: