Tsunami warning centre opened
Australia’s new Tsunami Warning Centre was officially opened in Melbourne last week.
Operated by the Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia, the centre has been developed under the Federal Government’s $68.9 million Australian Tsunami Warning System Project. It joins a network that includes similar facilities in Hawaii and Japan.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the opening of the centre is “a major milestone in establishing Australia’s self-reliance in detecting and issuing tsunami warnings”.
The centre will be able to assess any threat to Australian shores within 30 minutes of an undersea earthquake being detected.
Enhanced warning systems have been developed which will include detailed information such as which areas of coastline may be affected, together with an assessment of whether the impact of a tsunami will be confined to the sea or may include coastal flooding.
Operated by the Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia, the centre has been developed under the Federal Government’s $68.9 million Australian Tsunami Warning System Project. It joins a network that includes similar facilities in Hawaii and Japan.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the opening of the centre is “a major milestone in establishing Australia’s self-reliance in detecting and issuing tsunami warnings”.
The centre will be able to assess any threat to Australian shores within 30 minutes of an undersea earthquake being detected.
Enhanced warning systems have been developed which will include detailed information such as which areas of coastline may be affected, together with an assessment of whether the impact of a tsunami will be confined to the sea or may include coastal flooding.