- Introduction of GUARDIAN: A Tsunami Detection System
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) scientists are developing GUARDIAN, a system that utilizes signals from global navigational satellite systems (GNSS) to detect tsunamis worldwide.
- Enhancing Early Warning Strategies with GNSS Signals
GUARDIAN aims to serve as a “lifesaving alarm bell” by exploring the use of satellite signals to enhance early warning strategies for tsunamis. The system coordinates with clusters of GPS and other wayfinding satellites orbiting the Earth.
Within 10 minutes, GUARDIAN can produce a snapshot of a tsunami’s rumble reaching the ionosphere, providing potentially up to an hour of warning depending on the tsunami’s distance from shore. The system is considered one of the fastest monitoring tools of its kind.
- How GUARDIAN Works
GUARDIAN captures disturbances in the ionosphere caused by the interaction between pressure waves from tsunamis and charged particles. By analyzing the data, the system can identify natural hazards and provide crucial information for early warning.
- Focusing on the Ring of Fire
Currently, GUARDIAN’s team is focusing on the Ring of Fire, a region in the Pacific Ocean known for its geological activity and where the majority of tsunamis occur. The system’s monitoring coverage in the Pacific extends to over 50% of the region.
- Expanding Coverage and Accuracy
The GUARDIAN team aims to enhance the system’s coverage and accuracy. They are developing a website that will enable experts to examine the state of the ionosphere in real-time, providing access to data from approximately 90 stations around the Pacific Ring of Fire.
- Future Applications and Goals
NASA’s ultimate goal is to develop an automated system that can detect and alert for tsunamis, as well as other hazards like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. GUARDIAN is a significant step toward achieving this goal.
