Tsunamis are one of the most destructive events triggered by Mother Nature. These incredibly destructive tidal waves are capable of crushing everything found in their path. Present technological advancements do not allow us to predict tsunamis or earthquakes that generate most tsunamis.
So, to prevent human and economic losses, there should be a timely, reliable, and accurate tsunami warning system.
Now, scientists at Cardiff University’s School of Mathematics have developed a system that classifies earthquakes and determines potential tsunami risk. Researchers used hi-tech acoustic technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to identify earthquakes and evaluate possible tsunami risks.
Detecting Acoustic-Waves
For timely predicting tsunamis, researchers considered measuring the acoustic radiation (sound) produced by the earthquake. Acoustic radiation not only carries information about the tectonic event but also travels significantly faster than tsunami waves.
Researchers are using underwater microphones called hydrophones, for recording these acoustic waves and monitoring tectonic activity in real-time
Using sound recordings from hydrophones, acoustic technology, and AI, researchers were able to detect and analyze in real-time the acoustic radiation from 200 earthquakes in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Researchers successfully located the origin of the quakes, the pressure field generated, the duration of the wave, and its speed of travel. This way, researchers classified the earthquake’s type and magnitude, and the size of the tsunami.
“Our study demonstrates how to obtain fast and reliable information about the size and scale of tsunamis by monitoring acoustic-gravity waves, which travel through the water much faster than tsunami waves enabling more time for evacuation of locations before landfall,” said Dr. Usama Kadri, Senior Lecturer in Applied Mathematics.
The research was published in Physics of Fluids.
