Assessment of the Effectiveness of a Sea-Level Observing Network for Tsunami Warning

Abstract

In this study, the Bureau of Meteorology’s recently expanded sea-level observing network is assessed for its ability to contribute to tsunami warnings. This is done by using modelled tsunami travel times and examining the network’s ability to observe any potential tsunami in a timely enough manner so that sufficient warning is provided to the Australian coastline. Although the overall coverage of the network is very high, the study does highlight a number of network gaps. The value of individual observation sites and their contribution to the warning characteristics of the network is also assessed. The results provide valuable guidance for network managers and also set a benchmark for evaluating possible future changes and enhancements to the network.