Algorithms for Automatic, Real-Time Tsunami Detection in Sea Level Measurements

Automatic, real-time tsunami detection in sea-level measurements is a main component of a tsunami early warning system (TEWS). Although a great effort has been recently undertaken by the scientific and engineering community in developing new technologies (e.g. satellite altimetry, detectors of low-frequency elastic oscillations associated to a tsunami) capable of increasing the awareness of potential tsunamis in the minimum amount of time, at present direct detection in sea level measurements is still the main mean to confirm their actual generation and propagation, i.e. to upgrade or cancel the rapid initial warning usually given on the sole basis of seismic data. The paper describes the best available algorithms and numerical techniques which can be used for automatic real-time tsunami detection by using sea level measurements. The paper takes into consideration all possible device and locations for the sea level detection.