Observing the tsunamis

1999/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Botanika

Tsunamis are giant waves that occur in the sea by seismic movements. On the Japanese coast, tsunamis are frequent and unexpected, causing great catastrophes. Tsunamis are difficult to predict, since in large waters the height of the waves is usually low and when they approach the coast they become giants.

To address the problem, Japanese scientists want to use the GPS system service. In fact, satellites of this system can provide very accurate information about the position of the object, including the height information regarding a reference point. The Japanese will place buoys in the Pacific to report on vertical movement, each buoy with GPS receiver and radio transmitter. The follow-up of information from the buoys will be carried out by the University of Tokyo.