Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Strategies

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I read an interesting article that delved into some new and innovative methods that have been conceptualized to mitigate the impact of a tsunami.  Although these methods are outside utilities’ control, if you’re located on the west coast, they are helpful to understand.

Strategies and Tactics for Tsunami Proofing Communities

Here is a summary of 5 of the more innovative methods that have been developed (but not yet commercialized).

1. Researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed and tested a dynamic seawall system (SMS) that generates its own power to raise gates from the seafloor to protect against tsunamis, storm surges, and high waves.
2. Researchers from the University College London (UCL) and elsewhere have developed a method that utilizes existing GPS satellites to measure ionospheric electron levels, which can affect GPS signals and indicate when a tsunami is forming, to provide a quicker warning to coastal communities.
3. Researchers from UCLA and Cardiff University created a way to use hydrophones to capture acoustic radiation produced by underwater seismic events. This type of sound travels faster than the sound from tsunami waves, and therefore provides an early-warning opportunity.
4. Researchers from Kyoto University and elsewhere developed a method to monitor for magnetic-field anomalies caused by tsunamis, which can be used to provide a quicker warning because these can be detected in advance. Installing a network of permanent underwater magnetometers could enhance existing early-warning technologies.
5. Scientists recently published a study which shows that mangroves can be used as a tsunami barrier because they are effective at reducing wave energy. This promises an eco-friendly approach for protecting coastal communities.

There’s little doubt that coastal utilities and residents on the west coast and particularly in California are at risk of experiencing a tsunami.  Therefore, it’s comforting that researchers and scientists are actively working on strategies and tactics to reduce the impact and accelerate the warning.