History of Tsunami warning system in Timeline

Tsunami warning systems (TWS) detect tsunamis and issue warnings to minimize casualties and property damage. They consist of sensor networks for detection and communication infrastructure for timely alerts. International and regional systems utilize seismic alerts to initiate warnings, confirmed by sea level data. Proposed enhancements include analyzing t-wave energy for assessing tsunami potential.

April 1, 1946: 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake and tsunami

On April 1, 1946, the Aleutian Islands earthquake triggered a tsunami that caused significant devastation in Hilo, Hawaii, leading to the development of more advanced tsunami warning systems.

1946: 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake and tsunami

The 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake and tsunami, which caused 165 casualties in Hawaii and Alaska, led to the creation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in 1949.

1949: Establishment of PTWC

In 1949, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) was established in Ewa Beach, Hawaii following the devastating 1946 Aleutian Island earthquake and tsunami.

May 23, 1960: 1960 Valdivia earthquake and tsunami

On May 23, 1960, the Valdivia earthquake caused a tsunami that further highlighted the need for improved tsunami warning systems, particularly in Hilo, Hawaii, which experienced severe damage.

1967: Establishment of NTWC

The National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) was founded in Palmer, Alaska in 1967.

July 12, 1993: Hokkaido Tsunami

On July 12, 1993, a devastating tsunami struck the small island of Okushiri, Hokkaido, Japan, just minutes after a major earthquake. The close proximity of the island to the epicenter left little time for warning or evacuation, resulting in 202 fatalities and hundreds of others missing or injured. Many victims were caught by the wave while seeking safety after the initial earthquake.

2004: Establishment of INCOIS

Following the devastating tsunami that hit India's coasts after the Sumatra earthquake in 2004, the Indian government established the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).

2004: 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which resulted in nearly 250,000 fatalities, prompted the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System.

2004: 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami led to observations of long-period signals by broadband seismometers in India and Japan, similar to what was recorded by IPOC instruments after the 2010 Maule earthquake.

January 2005: UN conference in Kobe

In January 2005, following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, a UN conference in Kobe, Japan led to the decision to establish an Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System.

June 2005: Establishment of ICG/NEAMTWS

In June 2005, the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) was established by UNESCO.

November 2005: First ICG/NEAMTWS session

The first session of the ICG/NEAMTWS took place in Rome on November 21 and 22, 2005.

2005: Implementation of IPOC

In 2005, Chile began implementing the Integrated Plate boundary Observatory Chile (IPOC) to monitor seismic activity.

March 2008: Planning for Caribbean tsunami warning system

In March 2008, representatives of Caribbean nations met in Panama City to plan a Caribbean-wide tsunami warning system, aiming for implementation by 2010.

February 2010: Barbados tsunami protocol review

Barbados planned to review and test its tsunami protocol in February 2010 as a regional pilot project.

2010: 2010 Maule earthquake and tsunami

Following the 2010 Maule earthquake, long-base tiltmeters (LBTs) and the STS2 seismometer of the IPOC recorded long-period signals, similar to observations in India and Japan after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

2011: 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

Japan's tsunami warning system issued a warning within 3 minutes of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, leading to the development and implementation of an improved system in 2013.

2012: Indonesia's system failure

Indonesia's tsunami warning system became non-operational in 2012 due to the failure of its detection buoys, limiting predictions to seismic activity only.

March 7, 2013: Improved tsunami warning system in Japan

On March 7, 2013, Japan unveiled an improved tsunami warning system following the 2011 disaster.

October 2013: Oceansat 2 and Cyclone Phailin

In October 2013, the Oceansat 2 system was successfully used to predict the landfall and mitigate the impact of Cyclone Phailin.

2013: Simulations on historical data

Simulations conducted in 2013 on historical data demonstrated the value of tiltmeters and broadband seismometers for monitoring tsunamis, complementing tide gauge arrays. The 2010 Maule earthquake data showed tilt-sensors detected a signal 20 minutes before the tsunami's arrival.

December 2018: Indonesia tsunamis and new sensors

After tsunamis hit Indonesia in September and December 2018, including one caused by a volcano, the Indonesian government installed sea level sensors to improve tsunami prediction.