Article,
The status of earthquake early warning around the world: An introductory overview
Seismological Research Letters, 80 (5): 682--693 (Sep 1, 2009)
DOI: 10.1785/gssrl.80.5.682
Abstract
The term 'earthquake early warning' (EEW) is used to describe real-time
earthquake information systems that have the potential to provide
warning prior to significant ground shaking. This is possible by
rapidly detecting the energy radiating from an earthquake rupture
and estimating the resulting ground shaking that will occur later
in time either at the same location or some other location. Warning
times range from a few seconds to a little more than a minute and
are primarily a function of the distance of the user from the earthquake
epicenter. The concept has been around for as long as we have had
electric communications (e.g., Cooper 1868), but it is only in the
last two decades that the necessary instrumentation and methodologies
have been developed (e.g., Nakamura 1988; Espinosa-Aranda et al.
1995). The last five years in particular have seen a rapid acceleration
in the development and implementation of EEW, fueled by a combination
of seismic network expansion, methodological development, and awareness
of the increasing threat posed by earthquakes paired with desire
by the seismological community to reduce risk. This special issue
of Seismological Research Letters is intended to facilitate communication
of EEW methodologies and experiences in implementation. It complements
the special section of Geophysical Research Letters published in
March 2009 (Allen, Gasparini, and Kamigaichi 2009). Together, these
collections of papers describe the science, engineering, and societal
considerations of the active warning systems in Mexico, Japan, Taiwan,
Turkey, and Romania and detail the development and testing of methodologies
in the Unites States, Europe, and Asia. This introductory paper summarizes
this content to provide an overview of EEW status around the world.
10.1785/gssrl.80.5.682
