The POT is in the middle of an exciting project that could revolutionize the way tsunamis are anticipated. Called GUARDIAN (GNSS Upper Atmospheric Real-time Disaster Information and Alert Network), this experimental system uses data from GPS and other satellites to detect noise generated by tsunamis in the atmosphere.
In accordance with bio biothe system is based on data processing from the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Global Differential GPS (GDGPS) network, which provides improved real-time positional accuracy of up to 10 centimeters.
GUARDIAN scrubs satellite signals for signs of tsunami formation anywhere in the worldallowing a possible warning up to an hour in advance.
The key is in the sound
During a tsunami, large areas of the ocean can rise and fall almost in unison, displacing a significant amount of air above the surface. This displaced air propagates in the form of low-frequency sound and gravity waves in all directions..
After several minutes, these vibrations reach the ionosphere, the upper layer of the atmosphere, which is electrically charged and affected by solar radiation. The resulting impact of pressure waves with charged particles can slightly distort signals from nearby navigation satellites..
While navigation systems usually correct for these ionospheric disturbances, NASA scientists have used this information as a tool to detect natural hazards.
According to Léo Martire, a JPL scientist involved in the development of GUARDIAN, instead of correcting this phenomenon as an error, they use it as data to identify possible tsunamis. However, it is emphasized that this technology is still in a development stage.
Currently, GUARDIAN’s near real-time results must be interpreted by experts trained to identify tsunami signals. Although it has not yet reached its full potential, this experimental system has already become one of the fastest monitoring tools of its kind.