Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 GTS – Global Telecommunications Service: *Source: /HumanitarianBackground%20document.pdf Maintained by the WMO and is comprised of a network of surface and satellite based telecommunications links and centers. It is a system for the global exchange of meteorological, climatic, seismic and other data to support multipurpose early warning and forecast systems*. The TWCs (Tsunami Warning Centers) rely heavily on the GTS to supply sea-level data in near real time from ~400 sea-level stations world wide and to transmit Tsunami Bulletins.

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 GTS Sea-Level Data is structured in a rich variety of formats. There are approximately 12 or so basic formats, with a number of variations. UHSLC format (Manzanillo, MX) Readable ASCII (XMT 5min)‏ SEPA40 KWAL (WMO HEADER Origin Mdhhmm)‏ ^^ E (Platform ID#) :PRS 0 # …… (Readings in mm):RAD 1 # …… :BAT 4 # :NAME E 38+0NN 216W (GOESW Chan 216)‏ NOS “Tsunami Expert” Station (Nawiliwili, Hawaii USA)‏ SXXX03 KWAL Base 64 Encoding (XMT 6min)‏ ^^336015FC kTWyJBQBeBcB^BqBo 41+0NN 148W (one minute data)‏ (one minute data)‏ NTF (Australia) Station (Port Vila, Vanuatu)‏ SXPS85 RJTD (RJTD indicates origin is Tokyo, Japan)‏ AAXX /// / A B A

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 As you can see, GTS Sea-Level Data does not come gift wrapped and easy to use. GTS Sea-Level Data

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 For a TWC to use GTS Sea-Level Data, the TWC needs (at minimum): 1. Access to GTS Data! (Easier said than done in many cases)‏ 2. A Decoder to translate Sea-Level messages into sea-level data. 3. A MetaData Database (used by the decoder).

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 Why are High Frequency Sea-Level Data Transmissions needed? More frequent transmissions allow the TWC's to confirm the existence or non-existence of a destructive tsunami more quickly. This is important because with every hour a tsunami warning remains in effect, any where from 500km to 1000km of additional coastline is placed in a warning depending upon where the earthquake occurred.

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 Tsunami Detection time at one Sea-Level Station (2005)‏

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 Tsunami Detection time at three Sea-Level Stations (2005)‏

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 Tsunami Detection time at three Sea-Level Stations (2011)‏

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 Tsunami Detection Time Histograms‏

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 Tsunami Detection time at three Sea-Level Stations (2011)‏ The increase in the number of stations and in the frequency of Data Transmissions over the last 6 years have decreased the wait time for three sea-level stations to report evidence of a tsunami to the extent that now in 2011 the wait time in many cases is shorter than the wait time for just one station in 2005! This is real progress!

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 WHY IS CONTINUOUS DATA PREFERRED? 1. Tsunamis can happen at any time. 2. Sea-level station may be destroyed before it can transmit evidence of tsunami. it can transmit evidence of tsunami. 3. Trigger algorithm may turn on trigger mode, but what about turning it off? Observations of but what about turning it off? Observations of tsunami wave amplitude decay may be used to tsunami wave amplitude decay may be used to forecast when it is safe to cancel a warning. forecast when it is safe to cancel a warning. 4. Small tsunamis might not trigger. 5. Multi-Hazard (Storm surges, Seiches )‏ Robust two-way communication may be useful. Robust two-way communication may be useful.

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 ASSIGNING PRIORITY FOR HIGH FREQUENCY TRANSMISSIONS. Priority based on consideration of: 1. Proximity to Seismic Zone. Areas far from regions of tsunami genesis are Areas far from regions of tsunami genesis are less critical. 2. Does the proposed site fill a gap in coverage? New sites in regions of low station density New sites in regions of low station density reduce latency for detection. 3. Does the proposed site face open ocean? Sites situated in estuaries, fjords, etc. have greater Sites situated in estuaries, fjords, etc. have greater detection latency and may be sheltered from tsunami. 1. Proximity to Seismic Zone. Areas far from regions of tsunami genesis are Areas far from regions of tsunami genesis are less critical. 2. Does the proposed site fill a gap in coverage? New sites in regions of low station density New sites in regions of low station density reduce latency for detection. 3. Does the proposed site face open ocean? Sites situated in estuaries, fjords, etc. have greater Sites situated in estuaries, fjords, etc. have greater detection latency and may be sheltered from tsunami.

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 Touhoku Earthquake and Tsunami 1. Occurred of the coast of Japan due east of the city of Sendai at 5:46 March 10 UTC. of the city of Sendai at 5:46 March 10 UTC. 2. Magnitude was placed at 8.8 ~30minutes after the earthquake. It was raised to 8.9 after the earthquake. It was raised to 8.9 then 9.0 and finally 9.1 over the course of a then 9.0 and finally 9.1 over the course of a day. Free Oscillation analysis confirms 9.1 day. Free Oscillation analysis confirms Resulting Tsunami killed more than 10,000 people. Wave amplitudes > 10m. people. Wave amplitudes > 10m.

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 Touhoku Tsunami Forecast

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011 Touhoku Tsunami Marigrams Ofunato Hanasaki DART Acapulco