Scientists from Novosibirsk have created a system for quickly calculating the consequences of a tsunami. The development makes it possible to predict wave height just a few minutes after an earthquake, which is critically important for the coastal regions of the Far East and Asia.
Specialists from the Institute of Automation and Electrometry SB RAS (IA&E SB RAS) together with the Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB RAS (ICM&MG SB RAS) have developed a unique tsunami modeling technology. Their system uses a special coprocessor based on FPGA (field programmable gate arrays), which is comparable in computing speed to supercomputers.
How does forecasting work?
– Sensors on the ocean floor record changes in water levels with an accuracy of 1 centimeter.
– The new algorithm analyzes data already after 25% of the wave has passed, which speeds up calculations.
– The magnitude of the earthquake, the topography of the bottom and the displacement of tectonic plates are taken into account.
This system is especially important for regions where a tsunami reaches the shore in 25–30 minutes – Kamchatka, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and Japan. Traditional methods cannot process data as quickly, which increases risks for the population.
“Now most of the sensors are concentrated off the coast of Japan, where detailed data on the bottom topography has been accumulated. However, in the future, the technology can be adapted for the Russian services of the Ministry of Emergency Situations,” noted Mikhail Lavrentyev, head of the laboratory of the Institute of Automation and Energy of the SB RAS.
The development of Novosibirsk scientists can significantly increase the accuracy and speed of tsunami warnings. In the future, they plan to use the system in high-risk areas, which will help save lives.
Source: academia.interfax.ru
Image generated by a neural network
