Web-Based Tsunami Early Warning System: A Case Study of the 2010 Kepulaunan Mentawai Earthquake and Tsunami

This study analyses the response of the Global Disasters Alerts and Coordination System (GDACS) in relation to a case study: the Kepulaunan Mentawai earthquake and related tsunami, which occurred on 25 October 2010. The GDACS, developed by the European Commission Joint Research Center, combines existing web-based disaster information management systems with the aim to alert the international community in case of major disasters. The tsunami simulation system is an integral part of the GDACS. In more detail, the study aims to assess the tsunami hazard on the Mentawai and Sumatra coasts: the tsunami heights and arrival times have been estimated employing three propagation models based on the long wave theory. The automatic alert level for the earthquake was given between Green and Orange Alert, which, in the logic of GDACS means no need or moderate need of international humanitarian assistance; however, the earthquake generated 3 to 9 m tsunami run-up along southwestern coasts of the Pagai Islands where 431 people died. The post event calculations indicated medium-high humanitarian impacts.

ULUTAS Ergin;  ANNUNZIATO Alessandro;  INAN Asu; 

2013-01-19

COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH

JRC68903

1561-8633,   

www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/12/1855/2012/,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC68903,   

10.5194/nhess-12-1855-2012,