satellite direct readout conference, april 2011 gts – global telecommunications service: *source:

Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011Satellite Direct Readout Conference, April 2011

GTS – Global Telecommunications Service:GTS – Global Telecommunications Service:

*Source: http://www.wmo.ch/pages/prog/drr/events/humanitarian/Documents/HumanitarianBackground%20document.pdf

Maintained by the WMO and is comprised of a network of Maintained by the WMO and is comprised of a network of surface and satellite based telecommunications links and surface and satellite based telecommunications links and centers. It is a system for the global exchange of centers. It is a system for the global exchange of meteorological, climatic, seismic and other data tometeorological, climatic, seismic and other data tosupport multipurpose early warning and forecast systemssupport multipurpose early warning and forecast systems**..

The TWCs (Tsunami Warning Centers) rely heavily on the GTS The TWCs (Tsunami Warning Centers) rely heavily on the GTS to supply sea-level data in near real time from ~400 sea-level to supply sea-level data in near real time from ~400 sea-level stations world wide and to transmit Tsunami Bulletins.stations world wide and to transmit Tsunami Bulletins.


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 050000 (WMO HEADER Origin Mdhhmm)^^3541502E (Platform ID#) 186000003 :PRS 0 #1 9140 9139 ……9139 9068 8284 8446 (Readings in mm):RAD 1 #1 6494 6483 6483 …… :BAT 4 #5 13.3 :NAME 3541502E 38+0NN 216W (GOESW Chan 216)

NOS “Tsunami Expert” Station (Nawiliwili, Hawaii USA)SXXX03 KWAL 050000 Base 64 Encoding (XMT 6min)^^336015FC 186000041"P16114001@|]~[@@v0KwW1@il@WADWDM>@ij5DY<U`2@Rs@T@"@Rt kTWyJBQBeBcB^BqBo 41+0NN 148W (one minute data)(one minute data)

NTF (Australia) Station (Port Vila, Vanuatu)SXPS85 RJTD 042300 (RJTD indicates origin is Tokyo, Japan)AAXX 0423491559 46/// /9901 10257 40128 22200 00260 555 77744 A0103 44200 30031 1265B 03017 74002 00A07 .....


As you can see, GTS Sea-Level Data does not come gift wrapped and easy to use.

GTS Sea-Level DataGTS Sea-Level Data


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).


Why are High Frequency Sea-LevelData Transmissions needed?

More frequent transmissions allow the TWC's to confirm the existence or non-existence of a destructivetsunami more quickly. This is important because withevery 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.


Tsunami Detection time at one Sea-Level Station (2005)Tsunami Detection time at one Sea-Level Station (2005)


Tsunami Detection time at three Sea-Level Stations (2005)Tsunami Detection time at three Sea-Level Stations (2005)


Tsunami Detection Time HistogramsTsunami Detection Time Histograms



The increase in the number of stations and in theThe increase in the number of stations and in thefrequency of Data Transmissions over the last 6 yearsfrequency of Data Transmissions over the last 6 yearshave decreased the wait time for three sea-level stationshave decreased the wait time for three sea-level stationsto report evidence of a tsunami to the extent that now in to report evidence of a tsunami to the extent that now in 2011 the wait time in many cases is shorter than the wait2011 the wait time in many cases is shorter than the waittime for just one station in 2005!time for just one station in 2005!

This is real progress!This is real progress!


WHY IS CONTINUOUS DATA PREFERRED?WHY IS CONTINUOUS DATA PREFERRED?

1. Tsunamis can happen at any time.1. Tsunamis can happen at any time.2. Sea-level station may be destroyed before2. 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,3. Trigger algorithm may turn on trigger mode, but what about turning it off? Observations ofbut what about turning it off? Observations of tsunami wave amplitude decay may be used totsunami 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.4. Small tsunamis might not trigger.5. Multi-Hazard (Storm surges, Seiches )5. Multi-Hazard (Storm surges, Seiches ) Robust two-way communication may be useful.Robust two-way communication may be useful.


ASSIGNING PRIORITY FOR HIGH FREQUENCY ASSIGNING PRIORITY FOR HIGH FREQUENCY TRANSMISSIONS.TRANSMISSIONS.

Priority based on consideration of:Priority based on consideration of:

1. Proximity to Seismic Zone.1. Proximity to Seismic Zone. Areas far from regions of tsunami genesis are Areas far from regions of tsunami genesis are less critical.less critical.

2. Does the proposed site fill a gap in coverage?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.reduce latency for detection.

3. Does the proposed site face open ocean?3. Does the proposed site face open ocean? Sites situated in estuaries, fjords, etc. have greaterSites situated in estuaries, fjords, etc. have greaterdetection latency and may be sheltered from tsunami.detection latency and may be sheltered from tsunami.


Touhoku Earthquake and TsunamiTouhoku Earthquake and Tsunami

1. Occurred of the coast of Japan due east1. 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 2. Magnitude was placed at 8.8 ~30minutes after the earthquake. It was raised to 8.9after the earthquake. It was raised to 8.9 then 9.0 and finally 9.1 over the course of athen 9.0 and finally 9.1 over the course of a day. Free Oscillation analysis confirms 9.1day. Free Oscillation analysis confirms 9.13. Resulting Tsunami killed more than 10,0003. Resulting Tsunami killed more than 10,000 people. Wave amplitudes > 10m.people. Wave amplitudes > 10m.


Touhoku Tsunami ForecastTouhoku Tsunami Forecast


Touhoku Tsunami MarigramsTouhoku Tsunami Marigrams

OfunatoOfunato

HanasakiHanasaki

DART 21418DART 21418AcapulcoAcapulco