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| California tests natural disaster early warning system | California tests natural disaster early warning system |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| An early warning system for earthquakes, tsunamis and floods is being trialled in the US. | An early warning system for earthquakes, tsunamis and floods is being trialled in the US. |
| Scientists are using GPS technology and other sensors to detect the impending threat of natural disasters. | Scientists are using GPS technology and other sensors to detect the impending threat of natural disasters. |
| The network is installed in Southern California and has already helped scientists to alert emergency services to the risk of flash floods. | The network is installed in Southern California and has already helped scientists to alert emergency services to the risk of flash floods. |
| Yehuda Bock from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography said: "This can help to mitigate threats to public safety." | Yehuda Bock from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography said: "This can help to mitigate threats to public safety." |
| And added: "It means real-time information can be made available." | And added: "It means real-time information can be made available." |
| Ground motion | Ground motion |
| The minutes and even seconds before a natural disaster strikes are crucial. | The minutes and even seconds before a natural disaster strikes are crucial. |
| Early warning systems can help emergency services to prepare and respond more effectively and can provide vital information for the public. | Early warning systems can help emergency services to prepare and respond more effectively and can provide vital information for the public. |
| In California, researchers have been testing a prototype network for a range of hazards. | In California, researchers have been testing a prototype network for a range of hazards. |
| The system builds on existing networks of GPS stations, which use satellite technology to make very precise measurements of any ground movement. | The system builds on existing networks of GPS stations, which use satellite technology to make very precise measurements of any ground movement. |
| On these, they have installed seismic sensors and other instruments that can track changes in weather conditions. | On these, they have installed seismic sensors and other instruments that can track changes in weather conditions. |
| Dr Bock said: "By combining the data from the GPS with the data from these other sensors, we can measure displacements that occur during an earthquake or another event." | Dr Bock said: "By combining the data from the GPS with the data from these other sensors, we can measure displacements that occur during an earthquake or another event." |
| He added that the system could detect the tremors that appear seconds before a large earthquake strikes, and accurately assess its magnitude and whether it is likely to generate a tsunami. | He added that the system could detect the tremors that appear seconds before a large earthquake strikes, and accurately assess its magnitude and whether it is likely to generate a tsunami. |
| The GPS sensors and the meteorological instruments also help the team to monitor the water vapour in the air. | The GPS sensors and the meteorological instruments also help the team to monitor the water vapour in the air. |
| Dr Angelyn Moore, from Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said: "It might be surprising that we are using GPS to monitor weather hazards, but GPS is a weather instrument. | Dr Angelyn Moore, from Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said: "It might be surprising that we are using GPS to monitor weather hazards, but GPS is a weather instrument. |
| "Fundamentally, a GPS station is measuring the time it takes a signal to travel from the GPS satellites to the receiving stations on the ground, and that travel time is modified by the amount of moisture in the air. | "Fundamentally, a GPS station is measuring the time it takes a signal to travel from the GPS satellites to the receiving stations on the ground, and that travel time is modified by the amount of moisture in the air. |
| "Whenever we measure the position of a GPS station, we are also measuring the amount of water vapour above it." | "Whenever we measure the position of a GPS station, we are also measuring the amount of water vapour above it." |
| Through this, the team is able to track in real time how air moisture is changing and whether heavy rain is likely. | Through this, the team is able to track in real time how air moisture is changing and whether heavy rain is likely. |
| In the summer, the researchers used the system to forecast rainfall in San Diego. | In the summer, the researchers used the system to forecast rainfall in San Diego. |
| Traditionally, some of this data comes from weather balloons. | Traditionally, some of this data comes from weather balloons. |
| "But there are only two sites at the southern border of California and these are about 150 miles apart. And the weather balloon launches are also infrequent: in San Diego it's only every 12 hours," said Dr Moore. | "But there are only two sites at the southern border of California and these are about 150 miles apart. And the weather balloon launches are also infrequent: in San Diego it's only every 12 hours," said Dr Moore. |
| "In between those many hours between the weather balloon launches, we were able to use the GPS to monitor how the water vapour was changing." | "In between those many hours between the weather balloon launches, we were able to use the GPS to monitor how the water vapour was changing." |
| With this real-time information, the team was able to issue flash flood alerts. | With this real-time information, the team was able to issue flash flood alerts. |
| Dr Moore added: "This was verified - there were quite a few reports of flooding." | Dr Moore added: "This was verified - there were quite a few reports of flooding." |
| The sensing technology is being combined with communication advances to make sure the information is widely distributed, fast. | The sensing technology is being combined with communication advances to make sure the information is widely distributed, fast. |
| Dr Mark Jackson, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service, said: "When a forecaster presses that button to issue that warning, it then goes to the police or fire person that's responsible for taking action to protect life and property almost instantaneously. | Dr Mark Jackson, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service, said: "When a forecaster presses that button to issue that warning, it then goes to the police or fire person that's responsible for taking action to protect life and property almost instantaneously. |
| "We also have the public who now on their smartphones can receive warnings directly that say there is a warning in effect for your area." | "We also have the public who now on their smartphones can receive warnings directly that say there is a warning in effect for your area." |
| The team said the technology was inexpensive, and systems like it could be rolled out around the world. | The team said the technology was inexpensive, and systems like it could be rolled out around the world. |
| The findings were presented at the recent America Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco. | The findings were presented at the recent America Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco. |
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