Researchers from the German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ have recently demonstrated how a potential tsunami warning can be determined using GPS data. The researchers explained that in as little as three minutes, GPS data can be used to gather the spatial distribution and earthquake magnitude, enabling rapid and early warning for coastal areas.
With GPS monitoring in the epicenter region, data is quickly and instantaneously available soon after an earthquake occurs, enabling detailed study of the vertical and horizontal movements of the Earth’s tectonic plates. With the generated seismic data, scientists can determine the rupture process and evaluate the data. Dr. Andrey Babeyko, who presented the result at the European Geosciences Union assembly held in Vienna, explained that using the GPS data available from 500 GPS stations during the Fukushima earthquake, the earthquake magnitude was estimated at M = 9.0, leading to a possible tsunami within three to four minutes. The process requires evaluation of the GPS data using satellite orbit data and inverting the displacements using a mathematical model to generate a spatial model of the earthquake, enabling scientists to determine if the seabed undergoes deformation. Once it is confirmed, scientists compute the tsunami propagation to alert the coastal regions with appropriate warning.
Labeled the GPS shield concept, it was developed to aid the GITEWS tsunami early warning system developed by Helmholtz Association for Indonesia. Dr. Babeyko also added that the application on the GPS data sets of the 11th March Fukushima earthquake enforces that the GPS shield is critical in tsunami early warning systems.
Source: http://www.gfz-potsdam.de