Puricare Industrial Enterprises: TSUNAMI SCIENCE - 10 Years since Sumatra - A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden displacements in the sea floor, landslides, or volcanic activity. In the deep ocean, the tsunami wave may only be a few inches high. The tsunami wave may come gently ashore or may increase in height to become a fast moving wall of turbulent water several meters high. Although a tsunami cannot be prevented, the impact of a tsunami can be mitigated through community preparedness, timely warnings, and effective response. December 26, 2004. What began as an undersea earthquake in the Indian Ocean ended as the most deadly tsunami in recorded history, with nearly 240,000 lives lost. This was a devastating wake-up call to coastal communities and tsunami research. Prior to this event, only six of NOAA’s Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami, or DART, buoys were in place. Scientists could only predict tsunami arrival times, not flood potential. And there was not a global tsunami warning system. Today, ten years later, we can tell a different story. U.S. and international coastlines are far better prepared for such a catastrophe, thanks in large part to research and technology developed at the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research at Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. NOAA’s DART array is now complete, with 39 buoys operated by the National Weather Service’s National Data Buoy Center.

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Tsunami Science

10 Years since Sumatra

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden displacements in the sea floor, landslides, or volcanic activity. In the deep ocean, the tsunami wave may only be a few inches high. The tsunami wave may come gently ashore or may increase in height to become a fast moving wall of turbulent water several meters high. Although a tsunami cannot be prevented, the impact of a tsunami can be mitigated through community preparedness, timely warnings, and effective response.

Ocean Today

December 26, 2004. What began as an undersea earthquake in the Indian Ocean ended as the most deadly tsunami in recorded history, with nearly 240,000 lives lost.

This was a devastating wake-up call to coastal communities and tsunami research.

Prior to this event, only six of NOAA’s Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami, or DART, buoys were in place.

Scientists could only predict tsunami arrival times, not flood potential. And there was not a global tsunami warning system.

Today, ten years later, we can tell a different story.

U.S. and international coastlines are far better prepared for such a catastrophe, thanks in large part to research and technology developed at the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research at Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory.

NOAA’s DART array is now complete, with 39 buoys operated by the National Weather Service’s National Data Buoy Center.

Along with 21 international buoys, this array can measure a tsunami wave as small as one centimeter in the open ocean and provide these data in real-time to forecast when a tsunami may hit the coast and how much flooding there will be.

NOAA scientists and engineers are currently testing the fourth generation DART buoy that will be able to measure local tsunamis as well as distant ones.

Flooding forecast models incorporate local topography and historical tsunami data in order to more accurately predict exactly how a tsunami might behave when it reaches shore.

NOAA has 75 site-specific models that can provide high-resolution flooding forecasts for effective response and mitigation during a tsunami event.

NOAA has gathered data from every tsunami since 2004 to improve its forecast models.

Today, it operates the world’s only real-time tsunami flooding forecast system, using DART data to accurately compute flooding forecasts.

The NOAA Tsunami Warning Centers make tsunami data available on the internet, and issue advisories, watches and warnings through the Emergency Alert System and via NOAA Weather Radios.

While it is impossible to prevent a tsunami, we are now much better prepared to detect them and predict their paths and impacts, so those in coastal communities can take the steps necessary to safely protect themselves.

Fast Facts

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden displacements in the sea floor, landslides, or volcanic activity.

In the deep ocean, the tsunami wave may only be a few inches high.

The tsunami wave may come gently ashore or may increase in height to become a fast moving wall of turbulent water several meters high.

Although a tsunami cannot be prevented, the impact of a tsunami can be mitigated through community preparedness, timely warnings, and effective response.

Ocean Today is an exciting, multimedia kiosk that features videos on all aspects of the ocean realm -- exploration and discoveries, marine life and science. It was originally designed for the Sant Ocean Hall in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History which opened in September 2008. Due to the popularity of the videos, Ocean Today kiosks are now located in dozens of aquariums, museums, and learning centers throughout the world. Check out our map to find a location near you to visit or watch the videos here. This website serves as online archive for those who are unable to experience it in person

https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/indianoceantsunami/

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