Tuesday, March 13, 2007

starbulletin.com | News | /2007/03/13/

starbulletin.com | News | /2007/03/13/: "NOAA seeks faster tsunami solutions
The NOAA, celebrating its 200th anniversary, is trying to quicken detection of tsunamis
By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

Enhancing Hawaii's seismic network to collect better and faster information about tsunami threats is one of the goals this year of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says a key official.

It now takes two to three minutes after an earthquake to collect sufficient data to determine if a dangerous tsunami was generated, said Jeff LaDouce, director, National Weather Service Pacific Region.

'We're trying to get the solution for the location and intensity of earthquakes in the quickest time -- in 90 seconds,' LaDouce said in an interview at a recent breakfast meeting launching a yearlong celebration of NOAA's 200th anniversary.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is one of the many functions of NOAA, which manages more than $70 million annually in Hawaii fishery, oceanic, coastal, climatic and atmospheric programs, LaDouce pointed out."

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