The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

UW-Madison News Release--RE: Tsunami-warning system

Jan. 6, 2005

TO:	Editors, news directors

FROM: 	Terry Devitt, (608) 262-8282; trdevitt@wisc.edu

RE:	Tsunami-warning system for Indian Ocean



A tsunami-warning system for the Indian Ocean could be modeled on existing technology in the North Pacific, reports The Why Files, a widely read electronic magazine (http://whyfiles.org/) published by the University of Wisconsin-Madison that focuses on the science behind the news.



Tsunamis occur without warning, and because they cross the ocean at 500 miles per hour, warning time is short. Scientists can use computers and electronic communications to issue timely warnings using data from seismometers and tide gauges. But an Alaska tsunami-warning expert told The Why Files that issuing warnings is much easier than alerting local officials in time for a quick coastal evacuation.



Tsunami warning systems also require that a vast network of emergency responders be available to spread the news in coastal communities. And as the Indian Ocean tsunami proved, they must be available along thousands of miles of coastline.



During its almost nine years of publication, The Why Files has covered nearly every aspect of science, health, environment and technology. All articles are written in nontechnical English, heavily illustrated and fact-checked for accuracy. By one common measure (the number of unique Internet protocol addresses used to access the site), The Why Files has about 250,000 readers per month.



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