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Observing Tsunamis in the Ionosphere Using Ground Based GPS MeasurementsGround-based Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) show variations consistent with atmospheric internal gravity waves caused by ocean tsunamis following recent seismic events, including the Tohoku tsunami of March 11, 2011. We observe fluctuations correlated in time, space, and wave properties with this tsunami in TEC estimates processed using JPL's Global Ionospheric Mapping Software. These TEC estimates were band-pass filtered to remove ionospheric TEC variations with periods outside the typical range of internal gravity waves caused by tsunamis. Observable variations in TEC appear correlated with the Tohoku tsunami near the epicenter, at Hawaii, and near the west coast of North America. Disturbance magnitudes are 1-10% of the background TEC value. Observations near the epicenter are compared to estimates of expected tsunami-driven TEC variations produced by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University's Spectral Full Wave Model, an atmosphere-ionosphere coupling model, and found to be in good agreement. The potential exists to apply these detection techniques to real-time GPS TEC data, providing estimates of tsunami speed and amplitude that may be useful for future early warning systems.
Document ID
20150006003
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Galvan, D. A.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Komjathy, A.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Song, Y. Tony
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Stephens, P.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Hickey, M. P.
(Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ. Daytona Beach, FL, United States)
Foster, J.
(Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Date Acquired
April 21, 2015
Publication Date
September 20, 2011
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of the Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2011)
Location: Portland, OR
Country: United States
Start Date: September 20, 2011
End Date: September 23, 2011
Sponsors: The Institute of Navigation
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNH07ZDA001N-ESI
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
total electron content (TEC)
tsunami monitoring

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