Malaysian National Tsunami Early Warning System
The Malaysian National Tsunami Early Warning System (MNTEWS) is a tsunami early warning system, the tsunami forecasting and warning in the vulnerable regions of Malaysia accepts.
history
The MNTEWS was created as a result of the earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004 , which triggered a severe tsunami . This claimed at least 231,000 lives in the affected coastal regions, 70 of them on the territory of Malaysia . As a result, the decision was made in 2005 to set up the MNTEWS as a warning system.
The operator is the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD). This department belongs to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) .
Working method
In principle, the MNTEWS is an early warning system similar to the PTWC . An occurring quake is registered via a distributed network of seismometers and the strength (see Richter scale ) and the position of the quake are determined. If the quake turns out to be a seaquake after the evaluation , measurements of the wave movements, changes in sea level and changes in pressure are used to determine whether the quake triggered a tsunami. If, after evaluating the measurement data, there is a possibility of a tsunami, a warning is issued for the endangered areas.
The MNTEWS consists of the three main components
- Monitoring and Detection
- Data processing
- Data dissemination
A warning is issued within 12 minutes after an earthquake occurs. It was announced that the alarm time would be reduced to 10 minutes in 2012.
Monitoring and Detection
Seismological network in Malaysia
The recording of seismological data in Malaysia dates back to 1976. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) currently operates 17 seismological stations, including 10 high-motion seismometers ( accelerograph ) in the Klang Valley. Seven seismological stations use short period sensors, while the other ten stations use broadband seismometers. The seismological data are recorded in real time via a VSAT satellite and transmitted to the MMD headquarters in Petaling Jaya .
Deep sea buoy network
The first deep-sea buoy was launched on December 30, 2005 in the Andaman Sea , near Pulau Rondo . On March 7, 2006, the second buoy was installed near Terumbu Layang-Layang in the South China Sea . The buoys are equipped with measuring instruments to record the surface pressure and the height of tsunami waves. A third buoy is planned for the Sulu Sea area northeast of Borneo.
Tide measurement network
The measurement of the tide height as a further component of the monitoring is currently carried out at various locations such as Porto Malai (Langkawi), Pulau Perak and Teluk Bahang in the northern region of the Malay Peninsula, Pulau Perhentian in the northwest Malay Peninsula, and in Kudat and Lahad Datu in Sabah on the island of Borneo. The tide measurement can measure the height of the tsunami wave in the coastal area. The data are continuously recorded and serve as a guide value for the level of the tsunami warning.
All measurement data are also fed into regional and international tide measurement networks such as GLOSS (Global Sea Level Observation System) or the network in the Indian Ocean.
Coastal camera network
There are currently four video surveillance systems (CCTV) with a total of 18 cameras installed at strategic positions on the coast of Malaysia. High waves or unusual sea conditions are monitored in real time.
Data processing
Seismological process system ANTELOPE
The system supplied by the United States is used to automatically determine the location, magnitude and depth of an earthquake. The results are checked by manual recalculation.
Seismological process system SEISCOMP 3.0 and EARLY BIRD
Seiscomp 3.0 software is used to monitor seismological activity in the region. Like other international systems, the information is generated automatically. Seiscomp is an abbreviation for Seismological Communication Processor , a concept that was developed by GEOFON / GFZ Potsdam and ORFEUS (Observatories and Research Facilities for European Seismology) .
The system is based on the following functions:
- Real-time acquisition of seismic data
- Recording of seismic data
- Real-time communication
- Real-time data processing
Early Bird Version 1.0 is a system developed by the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WCATWC) that uses both real-time data and post-processed seismological data.
NAMIDANCE application software for tsunami modeling
The tsunami modeling software supplied by Turkey is a development based on the TUNAMI-N2 and TUNAMI-F1 code from Tohuku University, Japan. MMD uses this software to calculate the arrival time and wave height for the coastal regions of Malaysia and neighboring regions.
Data dissemination
SMS service, hotline, fax and internet stream
The MMD uses various means of communication such as SMS, hotline, internet, telephone and fax to pass on earthquake and tsunami warnings to the media and disaster control centers within 15 minutes of the occurrence of an earthquake.
Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and other television stations are able to react to tsunami events with live transmissions of the earthquake information, for example via news ticker .
Sirens have been installed at various strategic locations in densely populated coastal areas and beaches along the coastline of Malaysia. They are intended to warn the population of an impending tsunami and to enable people to flee to higher areas. The first siren was installed in Daerah Kerian in November 2005. There are now 13 sirens installed across the country.
The media criticized the low number of sirens installed several times. The MMD usually replies to such criticism by pointing out that the sirens represent only part of the overall warning program and that the government is making efforts to hold additional alarm exercises for the entire population in the particularly endangered regions.
Fixed Lines Alert System (FLAS)
The Fixed Line Alert System was developed in cooperation with Telekom Malaysia and enables an automatic voice announcement via the fixed telecommunications network.
Mini studio
The 6th floor of the Malaysian Meteorological Department in Petaling Jaya houses a small television studio. The Malaysian National Tsunami Early Warning Center can connect directly from here to the entire national television network and broadcast warning messages in all current programs.
International cooperation with PTWC, JMA
The early warning system is directly linked to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center ( PTWC ) in Hawaii and the Japan Meteorological Agency ( JMA ) in Tokyo. Direct communication is used whenever earthquake data is received from the Pacific region, the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. This is used to check and confirm the data received.
Tsunami exercises
In order to sensitize the population to the awareness and attention of the warning devices used (SMS, FLAS, sirens, news ticker) and to train them to behave correctly in the event of a disaster, the MMD, in cooperation with the National Security Council, regularly conducts exercises in high risk Regions through.
Such exercises took place on January 28, 2011 in Pantai Cenang , Langkawi and on December 21, 2013 in Sabak Bernam, Selangor .
The effectiveness of this ( Tsunami Drills and Awareness Program ) has been confirmed by a study.
Web links
- Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation - MOSTI
- Global Sea Level Observation System
- Observatories and Research Facilities for European Seismology
Individual evidence
- ↑ MNTEWS Status Report 2011
- ↑ Lecture Malaysian Seismological Network ( Memento of the original from May 23, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b c Che Gaya Ismail, Vice Director of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD), in NEW STRAITS TIMES, May 6, 2011, p. 19
- ↑ Tsunami modeling
- ↑ [1] ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Malaysian Meteorological Department: Public Awareness Campaign on Earthquake, Tsunami and Extreme Weather at Sabak Bernam, Selangor 21 December 2013 ; Accessed July 9, 2014
- ↑ Malaysian Meteorological Department: Public Awareness Campaign on Earthquake, Tsunami and Extreme Weather at Sabak Bernam ( Memento of the original from January 8, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , PDF document; Accessed July 9, 2014
- ↑ The Effectiveness of Public Awareness Campaigns on Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards in Malaysia ( Memento of the original from July 14, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Research Publication 4/2011, MMD
