Tsunami Warning System
Tasmania, Norfolk Island and Christmas Island
Background
The Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia
and Emergency Management Australia jointly run
a tsunami warning program for the south-west
Pacific. The program serves to warn Australians
of tsunami that may impact our coasts, both east
and west, as well as provide leadership for
regional tsunami warning in the south-west
Pacific.
Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL) was
commissioned to install four of the national
warning stations.
Australian Sea Level Observation Systems
installed by Manly Hydraulics Laboratory
Project Scope
The aim of the project was to install four
Australian Sea Level Observation Systems
(ASLOS) to supplement Australia’s tsunami
warning program. Monitoring stations were
installed by MHL as follows:
• Battery Point, Tasmania – February 2009
• Maria Island, Tasmania – April 2009
• Norfolk Island – July 2009
• Christmas Island – August 2009
Our Role
MHL undertook all logistical arrangements,
construction and technical installation at the four
remote locations, and provided technical
expertise in instrumentation that contributed to a
higher level design standard for the client.
Radar water level monitoring sensor
Darlington Jetty - Tas
0.2
8
0.15
6
0.1
Outcomes
PROJECT SHEET
0
-0.05
0
-0.1
-2
-0.15
15/07/2009
09:00:00
15/07/2009
12:00:00
15/07/2009
15:00:00
WLA
Res 21
15/07/2009
18:00:00
Event
Arrival
15/07/2009
21:00:00
16/07/2009
00:00:00
-0.2
16/07/2009
03:00:00
Detection
Detection of a water level anomaly due to a
tsunami in July 2009
www.mhl.nsw.gov.au
©DFS
Residual (m)
0.05
2
-4
15/07/2009
06:00:00
MHL received excellent feedback from the
Principal, and is looking forward to a stronger
working relationship for future installations.
A division of the Department of Finance and Services
4
Sea-Level (m)
MHL’s longstanding experience in coastal data
design, installation, operation and management
achieved a high level of technical problem-solving
to meet tight project timeframes and overcome
environmental and historical constraints.