HR: 1340h
AN: S53A-1026    [Abstracts]
TI: The West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center Forecast Model Project and Associated Sea Level Data Analysis Tools
AU: Knight, W
EM: william.knight@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, 910 South Felton Street Palmer, Alaska 99645, Palmer, AK 99645, United States
AU: Crowley, H
EM: heather.crowley@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, 910 South Felton Street Palmer, Alaska 99645, Palmer, AK 99645, United States
AU: Ferris, J
EM: justin.ferris@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, 910 South Felton Street Palmer, Alaska 99645, Palmer, AK 99645, United States
AU: * Hale, D
EM: david.hale@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, 910 South Felton Street Palmer, Alaska 99645, Palmer, AK 99645, United States
AU: Urban, G
EM: guy.urban@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, 910 South Felton Street Palmer, Alaska 99645, Palmer, AK 99645, United States
AU: Whitmore, P
EM: paul.whitmore@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, 910 South Felton Street Palmer, Alaska 99645, Palmer, AK 99645, United States
AB: Forecast (hydrodynamic) modeling is a necessary component in the refinement of tsunami warnings. Model results predict coastal regions likely to be impacted by either non-threatening or by destructive waves. They are used to predict the time of landfall and impact level, and play a role in hazard assessment. Model output data are integrated into the operational environment, where they are scaled and refined in real time with a new sea level analysis tool known as TideView. Over the last two years the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WCATWC) forecast model project has grown to include use in hazard assessment on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is also undergoing an upgrade to include inundation boundary conditions, increased use of nested finer meshes, more graphical output options for watch standers, and more flexible input of real time sea level data. The objective of this project is to provide warning center personnel with immediate, widespread tsunami amplitude forecasts based on pre-computed models and sea level observations. The TideView sea level data analysis software, developed at the WCATWC, enables warning center personnel to mesh observed tsunami information with the forecast model. The software also provides an easy method to compare observed waves with predicted tide and estimated tsunami arrival times, as well as digitally filter the tsunami signal. TideView interacts with the center's geographical information system and message generation software. This talk summarizes numerical and operational enhancements to the WCATWC forecast model and sea level analysis tools. Several examples from the Kuril Islands Tsunami of 11-15-06 will be given, along with a preview of new graphical outputs available to watch standers.
DE: 4534 Hydrodynamic modeling
DE: 4556 Sea level: variations and mean (1222, 1225, 1641)
DE: 4564 Tsunamis and storm surges
SC: Seismology [S]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting