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Observing Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Caused by Tsunamis Using GPS TEC 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 two recent seismic events: the American Samoa earthquake of September 29, 2009, and the Chile earthquake of February 27, 2010. Fluctuations in TEC correlated in time, space, and wave properties with these tsunamis were observed in TEC estimates processed using JPL's Global Ionospheric Mapping Software. These TEC estimates were band-pass filtered to remove ionospheric TEC variations with wavelengths and periods outside the typical range of internal gravity waves caused by tsunamis. Observable variations in TEC appear correlated with the tsunamis in certain locations, but not in others. Where variations are observed, the typical amplitude tends to be on the order of 1% of the background TEC value. Variations with amplitudes ~ 0.1 - 0.2 TECU are observable with periods and timing affiliated with the tsunami. These observations 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 in some locations, though there are cases when the model predicts an observable tsunami-driven signature and none is observed. These TEC variations are not always seen when a tsunami is present, but in these two events the regions where a strong ocean tsunami was observed did coincide with clear TEC observations, while a lack of clear TEC observations coincided with smaller tsunami amplitudes. There exists the potential to apply these detection techniques to real-time GPS TEC data, providing estimates of tsunami speed and amplitude that may be useful for early warning systems.
Document ID
20150008554
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Galvan, David A.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Komjathy, Attila
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Hickey, Michael
(Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ. Daytona Beach, FL, United States)
Foster, James
(Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Mannucci, Anthony J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
May 20, 2015
Publication Date
September 21, 2010
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Technical Meeting of The Satellite Division of the Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2010)
Location: Portland, OR
Country: United States
Start Date: September 21, 2010
End Date: September 24, 2010
Sponsors: Institute of Navigation
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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