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Tsunami Program Overview

Jenifer Rhoades

Date: June 16, 2008

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NOAA’s Tsunami ProgramAreas of Focus

• Tsunami Warning Program

• Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

• Tsunami Research and Development

• Global Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Network

Significant involvement and coordination with NOS, NESDIS, OAR, and Federal and State Partners

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Tsunami Program 2004(Pre-Strengthening Effort)

FY08 & FY09 Legacy Program (Non-Strengthening)

  FY08 Allocation FY09 Pres Bud

Tsunami Warning System Components    

Tsunami Warning System Operations 2886 2886

Subtotal 2886 2886

     

Tsunami Hazard Mitigation*    

NOAA TsunamiReady Staff Outreach 521 521

International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC) 380 380

Subtotal 901 901

     

Tsunami Research and Development

NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory - Tsunami Research 850 850

Subtotal 850 850

     

TOTAL 4637 4637

Note: NTHMP funding at $2.3M 1997-2006;

Additional $2M Earmark 2003-2005

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Tsunami Program 2004(Pre-Strengthening Effort)

• Tsunami Warning Program• 2 Warning Centers staffed 8hrs/day 5days/wk.

• 6 experimental Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami stations

• 0 national water level stations (NWLON) configured to support tsunami

• Insufficient global seismic data and communications; local Hawaii network limited

• Regional seismic networks implemented in Alaska and west coast through NWS and NTHMP

• Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program• 11 TsunamiReady™ communities recognized

• 5 member states in the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

• 3 Gb quality controlled data archived for tsunami observations and events

• 2 inundation forecast models completed

• Coastal tsunami forecast methodology implemented at TWCs

• Tsunami Research and Development• Transitioned DART technology from PMEL to NDBC in 2001; operational in 2003

•PMEL and NDBC awarded DOC Gold Medal in 2004 for successful transition

• No national research plan

• Global Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Network• No functional international coordination outside Pacific

• International Tsunami System and Information Center for Pacific only

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Administration Commitment to Strengthen The Nation’s Tsunami Warning Program

• In the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami, the Administration made a commitment to strengthen the Tsunami Program

FY 2005 Tsunami Supplemental Funding: $17.2M (+ USGS $13M)FY 2006 NOAA Appropriation: $ 9.7MFY 2007 NOAA Appropriation: $19.1MFY 2008 NOAA Appropriation: $23.2M FY 2009 PB: $23.2M

• PRIMARY FOCUS: Accelerate and Expand the Nation’s Tsunami Detection and Warning Capabilities

• Additional Administration Response

Defense: Relief = $250MState (USAID): Reconstruction = $660M

($16M for IO tsunami warning system)NSF: Research surveys = $1M

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Today’s Tsunami ProgramStrengthened Warning and Mitigation System:

NOAA Major Project Completion Date 3-31-08

• Tsunami Warning Program• 2 Warning Centers staffed and operating 24x7, 365 days/yr• TWC AORs expanded to all Indian Ocean and Caribbean nations as well as all US and Canada

coasts.• Notification provided to all UNESCO/IOC Focal Points in Pacific and Indian Oceans and Caribbean

Sea• 39/39 DART® II stations in operational status• 8/8 new Hawaii broadband seismic stations operational; integrated 9 USGS Global Seismic

Network affiliate stations and Test-ban Treaty arrays• 16/16 new + 33 upgraded TsunamiReady™ water-level stations (136 NWLON stations configured

to support tsunami)• Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

• 57 TsunamiReady™ Communities recognized• 28 member States in the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program• 3.2 Tb tsunami quality controlled data (event, earthquake, volcano, DART, water level, DEMs) • 26/26 Site-specific inundation models, digital elevation models and bathymetric maps completed

for Forecast Operations• Bathymetric survey of Puerto Rico completed• Forecast system Phase 1 implementation “tsunami at a glance” tested• SIFT coastal estimate tool resident at TWCs along with the TWC coastal forecast system

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U.S. Strengthening ProjectNOAA Project Accomplishments (cont.)*

Tsunami Research and Development Developed a National Tsunami Research Plan and a NOAA Research Plan that

include: Improvements and cost reductions of warning operations; Development of next generation forecast models that address local tsunami

problems Social Science studies (in partnership with NSF)

Global Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Network Provided technical assistance and training for International TWC development Improved preparedness and developed capacities Provided detection and communication equipment Promoted data-sharing practices and policies Established education/training capability at accredited universities

* Not required by the U.S. Strengthening Project Plan

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Administration Commitment to Strengthen The Nation’s Tsunami Warning Program

• Tsunami Warning and Education Act of 2006: [NOAA Authorized $135M for Program (FY2008 – FY2012)]

1. Tsunami Forecast & Warning Program including integrated observing systems

2. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program 27%

3. Tsunami Research Program 8%

4. Global Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Networkincluding International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC), technology transfer (WMO, IOC) and contributing to GEOSS

• Deficit Reduction of 2005; Title III: [NOAA Authorized $50M for Program (FY2008 – FY2012)]For Tsunami Warning and Coastal Vulnerability Program

1. Enhanced Tsunami Warning and Forecast CapabilityA. Including R&D

2. Improved Outreach and Education Effort

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Tsunami Warning Program(P.L. 109-424)

• SEC. 4. TSUNAMI FORECASTING AND WARNING PROGRAMThe Administrator, through the National Weather Service and in consultation with other relevant Administration offices, shall operate a program to provide tsunami detection, forecasting, and warnings for the Pacific and Arctic Ocean regions and for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico region.

– Shall maintain or establish—(A) a Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii; (B) a West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska; and(C) any additional forecast and warning centers determined by the National Weather Service to be necessary

– Utilize and maintain an array of robust tsunami detection technologies;– Maintain detection equipment in operational condition to fulfill the detection,

forecasting, and warning requirements of this Act;– Provide tsunami forecasting capability based on models and measurements,

including tsunami inundation models and maps for use in increasing the preparedness of communities, including through the TsunamiReady program;

– Maintain data quality and management systems to support the requirements of the program;

– Ensure that maintaining operational tsunami detection equipment is the highest priority within the program carried out under this Act.

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Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program(P.L. 109-424)

• SEC. 5. TSUNAMI HAZARD AND MITIGATION PROGRAM. The Administrator, through the National Weather Service and in consultation with other relevant Administration offices, shall conduct a community-based tsunami hazard mitigation program to improve tsunami preparedness of at-risk areas in the United States and its territories.

– Shall establish a Coordinating Committee comprising representatives of Federal, State, local, and tribal government officials. The Administrator may establish subcommittees to address region-specific issues.

– PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—The program under this section shall—• (1) use inundation models that meet a standard of accuracy defined by the Administration to

improve the quality and extent of inundation mapping, including assessment of vulnerable inner coastal and nearshore areas, in a coordinated and standardized fashion to maximize resources and the utility of data collected;

• (2) promote and improve community outreach and education networks and programs to ensure community readiness, including the development of comprehensive coastal risk and vulnerability assessment training and decision support tools, implementation of technical training and public education programs, and providing for certification of prepared communities;

• (3) integrate tsunami preparedness and mitigation programs into ongoing hazard warning and risk management activities, emergency response plans, and mitigation programs in affected areas, including integrating information to assist in tsunami evacuation route planning;

• (4) promote the adoption of tsunami warning and mitigation measures by Federal, State, tribal, and local governments and nongovernmental entities, including educational programs to discourage development in high-risk areas;

• (5) periodic review of the program

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Tsunami Warning Program(P.L. 109-424)

• SEC. 6. TSUNAMI RESEARCH PROGRAM. The Administrator shall, in consultation with other agencies and academic institutions, and with the coordinating committee established under section 5(b), establish or maintain a tsunami research program to develop detection, forecast, communication, and mitigation science and technology, including advanced sensing techniques, information and communication technology, data collection, analysis, and assessment for tsunami tracking and numerical forecast modeling.

Research program shall—– (1) consider other appropriate research to mitigate the– impact of tsunami;– (2) coordinate with the National Weather Service on technology– to be transferred to operations;– (3) include social science research to develop and assess– community warning, education, and evacuation materials; and– (4) ensure that research and findings are available to the– scientific community.

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Tsunami Warning Program(P.L. 109-424)

• SEC. 7. GLOBAL TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION NETWORK

International Tsunami Warning System International Tsunami Information Center DETECTION EQUIPMENT; TECHNICAL ADVICE AND

TRAINING.— Data Sharing Requirement

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FY 08 & 09 Funding Summary

Note: NOAA meets funding mandates required by the Tsunami Warning & Education Act of 2006

Administration Commitment to Strengthen The Nation’s Tsunami Warning Program

FY 08 FY08 FY08 FY08 FY08 FY08 FY08 FY09 FY09 FY09 FY09 FY 09 WARN OAR NWS NWS PB Alloc % WARN Spectrum PB Total %

Act BASE LWF SUSTWP Req Act Funds ReqTsunami Warning Program Components: Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN) 340 340 412 412 412 DART Operations & Maintenance (O&M) 13,265 13,265 11,830 11,830 11,830 Pacific/Alaska Region Seismic Network O&M 200 200 263 263 263 Tsunami Warning Centers 24/7 Operations 1,691 1,691 1,806 583 1,806 2,389 NOAA/NOS Sea-Level Monitoring Station O&M 700 700 841 841 841 TWEAK: State of Alaska Sea-Level Monitoring Station O&M 100 100 105 105 105 TWEAK: State of Alaska Seismic Station O&M 250 250 263 263 263 Tsunami Warning Centers Operations 2,886 2,886 2,886 2,886 2,886

Subtotal 0 0 2,886 16,546 19,432 18,407 64% 583 18,407 18,990 53%

Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (27% Mandate)

National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program 2,085 2,085 2,377 3,000 2,377 5,377 NOAA Tsunami Ready Program 300 300 750 750 750 1,500 TWEAK: State of Alaska Tsunami Ready Program Support 300 300 322 322 322 Tsunami Warning Center Outreach 300 300 300 300 300 NESDIS/National Geophysical Data Center - BaselineTsunami Data 200 200 276 276 276 NOAA/PMEL - Inundation Mapping & Modeling Program 2,000 2,000 2,000 3,000 2,000 5,000 NOAA Tsunami Ready Staff Outreach 521 521 521 521 521 International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC) 380 175 555 564 564 564 WARN Act Grants for Outdoor Alerting Technologies 1,000 1,000 1,000 (1,000) 1,000 0

Subtotal 1,000 0 901 5,360 7,261 8,109 28% (1,000) 6,750 8,109 13,859 38%

Tsunami Research & Development (R&D) (8% Mandate) NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory - Tsunami Research 850 470 1,320 1,450 1,000 1,450 2,450 National Data Buoy Center - DART R&D 270 270 300 300 300 Pacific Marine Enviornmental Lab - DART R&D 200 200 200 200 200 TWEAK: State of Alaska Inundation Modeling R&D 350 350 368 368 368

Subtotal 0 850 0 1,290 2,140 2,318 8% 0 1,000 2,318 3,318 9%

TOTAL 1,000 850 3,787 23,196 28,833 28,833 100% (1,000) 8,333 28,833 36,167 100%

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Background & DiscussionU.S. Tsunami Program Plan

2008 – 2013*

• Tsunami Warning Program– Sustain 24x7 capability at 2 TWCs– Operate & maintain existing observational networks and integrate other networks

• DART™ II, seismic, and TsunamiReady™ water level• Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

– Recognize 50 additional TsunamiReadyTM communities– National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program– Continue data archive and data quality control– Complete 49 site-specific inundation models, Digital Elevation Models and bathymetric maps for

Forecast Operations– Move SIFT to operations– Integrate TWC Forecast Models with SIFT GUI

• Tsunami Research and Development– Improve accuracy and lead-time of tsunami warnings – Implement improvements to tsunami warning, education, and mitigation efforts, including social

science studies• Global Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Network

– Tsunami Watch-Provider for Indian Ocean, Pacific, and Caribbean countries– Research and development agreements with Australia and Indonesia– Promote capacity development, technology transfer, and data exchange policies– Support through IOC, WMO, GEO– Continue ITIC support– Continue to support the University of Puerto Rico’s capacity building in the Caribbean

* Excludes Spectrum Plan Funding

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Summary/Priorities• Significant achievements since 2004

• Coordination and activities on-going to maintain and improve TWS

• Near-Term gains for Warning System, NTHMP and Research expected to be achieved through Spectrum Sale Funding

• Implementation of Strategic Plan

• IT Convergence

• Coordination with Other Los

• Execution of Spectrum Funds

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Background Slides

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Warning Operations and Notification

• Warning and Information Centers– Global area of responsibility serving national

needs – Operating 24x7– Fast, reliable, and trusted

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Global DART™ II NetworkA contribution to GEOSS

Detection and Verification:

Full Operational Capability March 2008

1919Total: 4 models pre-strengthening + 26 new models completed

Forecast System

Generation, propagation, and site-specific decisionsPhase 1 West Coast, Alaska and HI

20Total: 4 models pre-strengthening + 26 new models completed

Forecast System

Generation, propagation, and site-specific decisionsPhase 1, East and Gulf Coasts, PR and USVI

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Tsunami Forecast Model Development

FY06 / 8 Completed FY07 / 9 Completed FY08 / 6 Planned

Region Population Center Region Population Center Region Population Center

Alaska Seward, AK Alaska Dutch Harbor, AK Alaska King Cove, AK

Alaska Sitka, AK Alaska Homer, AK Pacific Kaiwaihae, HI

Pacific Nawiliwili, HI Alaska Yakutat, AK Western Garibaldi, OR

Pacific Kahului, HI Pacific Haleiwa, HI Western La Push, WA

Western San Pedro, CA Pacific Honolulu, HI Southern Daytona Beach, FL

Eastern Myrtle Beach, SC Pacific Pearl Harbor, HI Eastern Montauk, NY

Southern Mayaguez, PR Western Port San Luis, CA

Southern San Juan, PR Western San Diego, CA

Eastern Cape Hatteras, NC

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Tsunami Inundation Model Development

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60

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2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Fiscal Year

To

tal

# o

f M

od

els

NOAA’s Tsunami ProgramHazard Assessment

* Deferred delivery of 3 inundation models in FY08 to put resources on transitioning models to operations.

1 Opportunity to accelerate and expand #models completed to address more at-risk communities w/Spectrum Sale.

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13

21

3036*1

45

54

63

7275