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Last Updated: September 22, 2005
Annotated Bibliography for Mission 2009
Gabriel Torres
Team 5: Earthquake and Tsunami Monitoring


  1. Koike, N., Kawata, Y. and Imamura, F. (2003, July). Far-Field Tsunami Potential and a Real-Time Forecast System for the Pacific Using the Inversion Method. Natural Hazards, 29 (3), 425 – 436. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from SpringerLink database.

A proposed system of tsunami detection, called the Inversion method. It has been tested to be accurate using numerical simulations. The article also speaks of the importance of taking into accounts fault model of earthquakes where no tsunamis have generated in the past.


  1. Oppenheimer, D. H., Bittenbinder, A. N., Bogaert, B. M., Buland, R. P., Dietz, L. D., Hansen, R. A., Malone, S. D., McCreery, C. S., Sokolowski, T. J., Whitmore, P. M. and Weaver, C. S. (2005, May). The Seismic Project of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. Natural Hazards, 35(1), 59 – 72. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from SpringerLink database.

The paper is about the Seismic Project of the NTHMP. It states the goals of the project, and concludes that it has more than achieved the goals that were set for it, including making the system less likely to issue an erroneous tsunami warning.


  1. Bernard, E.N. (2005, May). The U.S. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program: A Successful State–Federal Partnership. Natural Hazards, 35(1), 5 – 24. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from SpringerLink database.

This article explains what the U.S. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) is, and it has accomplished over the 7 years that it has been running. The NTHMP was and is based on the needs of coastal communities and emergency managers, and one of its greatest achievement was preventing a 68M$ evacuation of Hawaii in 2003, after it was detected that the tsunami would be non-damaging.


  1. González, F. I., Bernard, E.N., Meinig, C., Eble, M. C., Mofjeld, H. O. And Stalin S. (2005, May). The NTHMP Tsunameter Network. Natural Hazards, 35(1), 25 – 39, Springer Science and Business Media B.V., Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from SpringerLink database.

The document gives an overview of the NOAA's tsunameter system, and how it'll be expanded. It mentions that Chile has bought an NOAA tsuameter and plans to buy more for a number of offshore stations. It also makes a quick mention of Japan's tsunami detection system.


  1. Titov, V. V., González, F. I., Bernard E.N., Eble, M. C., Mofjeld, H. O., Newman J. C. and Venturato, A. J. (2005, May). Real-Time Tsunami Forecasting: Challenges and Solutions. Natural Hazards, 35(1), 35 – 41. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from SpringerLink database.

Describes the forecasting and modeling tools of the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA). This is the foundation for the tsunami warning system now being implemented for the Pacific.


  1. McCreery, C. S. (2005, May). Impact of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program on Operations of the Richard H. Hagemeyer Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Natural Hazards, 35(1), 73 – 88. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from SpringerLink database.

A paper on how the NTHMP has affected the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center(PWTC). It says that the NTHMP has had a positive effect on the the center. It also says that as a result of its seismic project, the amount and quality of real-time seismic data lowing into the PTWC has increased dramatically, enabling more rapid,accurate, and detailed analyses of seismic events with tsunamigenic potential. Also mentions other positive impacts on the center.


  1. González, F. I., Titov, V. V., Mofjeld, H.O., Venturato, A. J., Simmons, R. S., Hansen, R., Combellic, R., Eisner, R. K., Hoirup, D. F., Yanagi, B. S., Young, S., Darienzo, M., Priest, G. R., Crawford, G. L. and Walsh, T. J. (2005, May). Progress in NTHMP Hazard Assessment. Natural Hazards, 35(1), 89 – 110. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from SpringerLink database.

A progress report on the NTHMP Hazard Assessment.The paper states that the Hazard Assessment component of the U.S. NationalTsunami Hazard Mitigation Program has completed 22 modeling efforts covering 113 coastal communities with an estimated population of 1.2 million residents that are at risk. However, it also mentions that the main “Hazard Assessment” goal of “providing every at-risk community with an inundation map, an evacuation map, and related Hazard Assessment products, remains a major challenge.”


  1. Darienzo, M., Aya, A., Crawford, G. L., Gibbs, D., Whitmore, P. M., Wilde, T., Yanagi, B. S. (2005, May). Local Tsunami Warning in the Pacific Coastal United States. Natural Hazards, 35(1), 111 – 119. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from SpringerLink database.

            This article speaks of tsunami warning systems in the Pacific. It explains systems for both distant and local tsunamis, and gives recommendations.


  1. Bernard, E.N., González, F.I., Meinig, C., and Milburn, H.B. (2001). Early detection and real-time reporting of deep-ocean tsunamis. In Proceedings of the International Tsunami Symposium 2001 (ITS 2001) (on CD-ROM), NTHMP Review Session, R-6, Seattle, WA, 7–10 August 2001, 97–108. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/Dart/Pdf/R-06_Bernard_meinig.pdf

Explains the array of DART's system, how it developed, how it is set up, and how they plan to expand said system from six to ten buoys, and where these will be placed. Also includes personnel lists,suppliers, costs and other data.


  1. Eble, M.C., Stalin, S.E. and Burger, E.F. (2001). Acquisition and quality assurance of DART data. In Proceedings of the International Tsunami Symposium 2001 (ITS 2001) (on CD-ROM), Session 5-9, Seattle, WA, 7–10 August 2001, 625–632. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/Dart/Pdf/5-09_Eble.pdf

This paper explains how the DART system sends and receives data, from the BPR's in the ocean bottom to the buoys, the satellite and the ground station. It also explains how they assess the quality of the data.


  1. Gonzalez, F.I., Milburn, H.M., Bernard, E.N. and Newman, J.C. (1998).
    Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART): Brief Overview and Status Report. In Proceedings of the International Workshop on Tsunami Disaster Mitigation, 19-22 January 1998, Tokyo, Japan. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/dart_report1998.html

A straightforward report on what was then the plans for the DART system. IT explains the testing, and where the buoys were to be deployed. Includes images and examples of data.


  1. Milburn, H.B., Nakamura, A.I. and Gonzalez, F.I. (1996).
    Real-time tsunami reporting from the deep ocean. Proceedings of the Oceans 96 MTS/IEEE Conference, 23-26 September 1996, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 390-394. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/milburn1996.html

Explanation of the prototype tsunameter that would later become the sensor-buoy system of the DART tsunameter system. This is part of the proposal to bring the system on-line (which later it was). This serves as an insight into the development of the NOAA’s tsunami detection system.


  1. Eble, M.C., and González, F.I. (1991). Deep-ocean bottom pressure measurements in the northeast Pacific. J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 8(2), 221–233, Retrieved September 20, 2005 from http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/Dart/Pdf/Eble_J_atmo_91.pdf

This paper discusses bottom pressure measuring mechanisms, and explains that they are suited for oceanographical purposes. It makes mention of quartz-crystal transducers, which are commercially available, and says that these are stable and accurate, though external conditions can affect the accuracy of the transducers. It makes mention also of the use being given to these, which is deep-ocean tsunami detection.


  1. Meinig, C., Stalin, S.E., Nakamura, A.I. and Milburn, H.B. (2005), Real-Time Deep-Ocean Tsunami Measuring, Monitoring, and Reporting System: The NOAA DART II Description and Disclosure. Retrieved September 20, 2005 from http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/Dart/Pdf/DART_II_Description_6_4_05.pdf

Provides a technical overview of the Dart II system, the one currently
being used to detect tsunamis in the United States. It provides the
specifications of all the components of the system, and includes diagrams.


  1. Goode D. (2005, January 15). Interest swells in tsunami warning sytems. National Journal, 37(3), 121-122. Washington. Retrieved September 20, 2005,from ProQuest Research Library database.

As the title states, the article speaks of the increase in interest for tsunami warning systems, in light of the events of December 2004. It mentions the “relatively cheap” sensor-buoy system that the United States is currently using. Speaks of the united States expansion of the system and its cost.


  1. Taverna, M. A.(2005, Jan 31). Back to the Future. Aviation Week and Space Technology, 162(5), 53. New York. Retrieved September 20, 2005,from ProQuest Research Library database.

In this article, the author writes about agreement by international delegates in Japan to create an embryonic global network by 2007, for tsunami detection. This system will expand on the current system on the Pacific, but will be limited unless more satellites and other assets can be added to it.


  1. Trembly, A. C. (2005, February 28). U.S. Set to Bolster Tsunami Warning Technology. National Underwriter, 109(8), 12-13. Erlanger: P & C. Retrieved September 20, 2005,from ProQuest Research Library database.

The article states that the Bush Administration is planning to extend it’s tsunami detection and warning system, in light of the events of the devastating tsunami in the indian Ocean. his expansion is part of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) effort.


  1. Holton, C. (2005, April). A system of systems. Laser Focus World, 41(4), 59.Tulsa. Retrieved September 20, 2005,from ProQuest Research Library database.

The article speaks of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), a 10-year endeavor to monitor the Earth systems through satellites. This will include tsunami detection, once again placing satellite observation as an option in tsunami-detection networks.


  1. Envirtech Deep Sea Tsunami Alarm System. (n.d.) .Retrieved September 20, 2005, from http://www.tsunami.li/

This website contains an overview of Envirtech’s tsunameter. This tsunameter measures very small fluctuations of water pressure on the sea bottom. It consists of a module on the sea floor, that measures water pressure with a quartz crystal resonator, and a buoy. The system communicates with Inmarsat satellites that forward the signals to land centers. The website provides a complete overview of Envirtech’s tsunami alarm system, with a complete technical overview of the components.


  1. Tsunami Program-DART (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 200, from http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/Dart/dart_home.html

This is the home page to DART, Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis. A very helpful page, with links to a number of references related to the system (in-depth explanations), and brief explanations on how the system works, what types of sensors it uses, where they are deployed and other information on this tsunami reporting system.

  1. Mofjeld, H.M. (n.d.)Tsunami Detection Algorithm. Retrieved September 21 from http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/tda_documentation.html

It is, as the title states, a tsunami detection algorithm, explained.

Contact e-mail: gtorres@mit.edu