Knowlege and Technology Transfer - Tsunami Hazard

Tsunami early warning and preparedness requires inter- and transdisciplinary efforts in assessing the hazard and estimating the risk. Addionally, since large uncertainties still exist in measuring, modeling, and evaluating the diverse steps in such assessments, rigorous uncertainty quantification and propagation is mandatory.

Members of the research area Numerical Methods in Geosciences are involved in multi-disciplinary projects to mitigate and reduce tsunami hazard and risk. Here are a few examples of research and transfer of knowledge and technology into society related to tsunami.

Photo: Helzel/UHH

Cooperation with Helzel Messtechnik GmbH

R. Cifuentes Lobos and J. Behrens cooperate with the company Helzel Messtechnik GmbH, developer of HF radar devices used for ocean wave and current monitoring. These devices - when configured correspondingly and equipped with advanced algorithms - can detect tsunami waves approaching the coast well before they actually reach the shore. Currently, additional methods are developed to infer tsunami source information from the radar signal.

Photo: J. Behrens/UHH

Global Tsunami Model Association

The Global Tsunami Model (GTM) Association develops and promotes probabilistic tsunami hazard and risk assessment methods. A core aspect of its purpose is to co-develop with users from industry, public services, political decision makers, and scientist strategies for tsunami disaster preparedness and mitigation. Partners of GTM are Munich RE, Global Earthquake Model Foundation, among others. J. Behrens is the board chair of GTM.

Photo: J. Behrens/UHH

GITEWS Early Warning System Indonesia

J. Behrens lead the tsunami modeling group, within the German-Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System (GITEWS), and developed new insight into the uncertainty related to near-field tsunami. From a rigorous mathematical understanding of the uncertainty propagation, a new multi-sensor tsunami early warning method could be derived, which was subsequently implemented and still serves as the core of the InaTEWS operational tsunami early warning system in Indonesia.

Photo: J. Behrens/UHH

UNESCO Intergovernmental Coordination Group

J. Behrens is a regular member of the German delegation to the UNESCO IOC ICG/NEAMTWS intergovernmental coordination group for the North-East Atlantic, Mediterranean, and connected seas Tsunami Warning and mitigation System.