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TGIF Seminar Series

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November 20, 1998.

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center Operations, Challenges, and the PNG Tsunami

By

Stuart A. Weinstein
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Abstract:
   In 1965, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) accepted an offer from the U.S. to expand the operation of its existing tsunami warning center to include member nations of the IOC in the Pacific region. The challenges faced by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) are numerous, including timely location and magnitude determination of Pacific region earthquakes, and the decision process to start/terminate Watch/Warnings. There are also the challenges presented by "slow" earthquakes. A discussion of PTWC operations in these regards will be presented as well as future enhancements to PTWC's mission.
   The PNG Tsunami of 7/18/98 struck at dusk, killing upwards of 3000 people. Preliminary survey results of inundated areas and some discussion of why the tsunami was so deadly will be presented. An interesting aspect of this tsunami is that outside of the local region of PNG only Japan experienced tsunami wave amplitudes greater than a few cm. In Japan the amplitude of the waves reached as much 40cm. The distribution of wave amplitudes from tide gauges on Japan suggest possible focusing by the Kyushu-Palau and South Honshu Ridges.
 

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