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NOAA/West coast and Alaska Tsunami warning center Atlantic Ocean response criteria

Science of Tsunami Hazards
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Abstract

West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WCATWC) response criteria for earthquakesoccurring in the Atlantic and Caribbean basins are presented. Initial warning center decisions are based on an earthquake's location, magnitude, depth, distance from coastal locations, and precomputed threat estimates based on tsunami models computed from similar events. The new criteria will help limit the geographical extent of warnings and advisories to threatened regions, and complement the new operational tsunami product suite. Criteria are set for tsunamis generated by earthquakes, which are by far the main cause of tsunami generation (either directly through sea floor displacement or indirectly by triggering of sub-sea landslides).The new criteria require development of a threat data base which sets warning or advisory zones based on location, magnitude, and pre-computed tsunami models. The models determine coastal tsunami amplitudes based on likely tsunami source parameters for a given event. Based on the computed amplitude, warning and advisory zones are pre-set.

Suggested Citation

Whitmore, P., Refidaff, C., Caropolo, M., Huerfano-Moreno, V., Knight, W., Sammler, W., Sandrik, A., 2009, NOAA/West coast and Alaska Tsunami warning center Atlantic Ocean response criteria: Science of Tsunami Hazards, v. 28, no. 2, p. 86-107.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title NOAA/West coast and Alaska Tsunami warning center Atlantic Ocean response criteria
Series title Science of Tsunami Hazards
Volume 28
Issue 2
Year Published 2009
Language English
Publisher the Tsunami Society
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Science of Tsunami Hazards
First page 86
Last page 107
Additional publication details