Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre Visit
Sharyn and I recently visited the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii. The PTWC provides warnings of tsunamis to almost every country around the Pacific Rim including New Zealand. This function is carried out under the auspices of the UNESCO/IOC International Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System.
A few destructive tsunamis are generated each century by great earthquakes around the Pacific Rim. Such tsunamis can propagate across the entire Pacific in less than 24 hours, and cause widespread destruction along shorelines located thousands of kilometres from their source. With ever-increasing population and development along most coastlines, there is a corresponding increase in risk.
We were given a most informative tour around the centre by Brian who works there as a seismologist. It was great to see firsthand where the warnings which are sent to New Zealand’s Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management are generated.
The centre at Ewa Beach is a 90 minute drive from Honolulu, on the far side of Pearl Harbour. The centre was set up after an 8.5 magnitude earthquake killed 61 people in Hilo on the northern shores of Hawaii and destroyed much of the city with wave heights reaching nearly 11 metres. Today the centre monitors seismic activity around the world from an increasing number of both land and marine based sensors. Modern technology using sonar signals allows for sensors located on the seabed as deep as 3,000 metres to transmit signals via satellite to the centre providing us with advanced warning of potentially destructive tsunamis.
If you would like us to deliver a presentation or training to your staff on how best to manage a tsunami threat please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone us on 04 232 5363 or 0800-532-008.