The Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) system is a component of an enhanced tsunami warning system.

Each DART station consists of a seafloor bottom pressure recording (BPR) package that detects pressure changes caused by tsunamis and a surface buoy which receives transmitted information from the BPR via an acoustic link. The buoy then transmits data to a GOES satellite, which retransmits the data to ground stations. [1] The buoy and BPR together are called a "tsunameter", and each one costs about USD 250,000.

Prototype development began in 1995 and the first four DART stations were in place by 2000. The buoys have a design life of one year and the BPRs are designed to be deployed for 2 years at a time.

As of 2004, there were six DART stations deployed in the Pacific; however, due to heightened concerns in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its subsequent tsunamis, plans were announced to deploy an additional 32 DART buoys by mid-2007. [2] These would include stations in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

Of the six existing stations, three are in the North Pacific Ocean off the Aleutian Islands at 157°, 165° and 171° W longitude. Only the most easterly one was working during 2004 and the other two will not be replaced until summer 2005 due to severe storms during the winter. Two stations are located off the Oregon coast at 128° and 130° W longitude. In November 2004, the northerly one ceased working and was removed for repair. On January 16, 2005 it was returned to service. After some intermittent operation, it has provided steady service. The sixth station is located south of the equator at 125° W longitude. [3]

See also

• Tsunami warning system
• Tsunami

External links

• http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/Dart/
• http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Dart/dart.shtml
• Realtime DART buoy data