Natural disasters such as tsunamis strike with little warning, leaving coastal populations vulnerable to devastating loss of life and property. Over the years, scientists have developed several systems to monitor seismic activity and ocean behavior, but one of the most groundbreaking contributions in this field has come from NASA. Using advanced satellite technology, GPS systems, and atmospheric observation tools, NASA has learned to detect and track tsunamis in real time—sometimes even before traditional ocean-based sensors can respond.
The Challenge of Early Tsunami Detection
Tsunamis are usually triggered by powerful undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. While seismic stations can detect the initial quake, they cannot directly measure whether a tsunami has formed. Traditionally, ocean buoys called DART sensors are used to detect sudden changes in sea level. Although effective, these buoys are limited in number, expensive to maintain, and sometimes too far from the earthquake source to send timely warnings.
