A Study of Delays in Making Tide Gauge Data Available to Tsunami Warning Centers

Abstract

This short note provides conclusions of a study of the various factors that determine the delay between tsunami arrival at a tide gauge station and data being made available at tsunami warning centers. The various delays involved include those associated with the tide gauge hardware and measurement methods and with the form of telemetry employed. It is shown that the most widely used form of telemetry in existing tsunami networks (meteorological satellite data collection platforms) can be improved upon significantly with the use of modern telemetry alternatives [notably Inmarsat?s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN)], enabling faster, more frequent, more secure, and higher bandwidth transmissions of tide gauge data.