EvoLogics Modems Provide Acoustic Link for a Real-time Tsunami Monitoring System in Japan
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Berlin, Germany – EvoLogics modems provide acoustic link for a realÂtime tsunami monitoring system in Japan In 2014, tsunami waves, originating off the coast of Chili, were successfully detected near Japan, where EvoLogics (http://evologics.de) modems enabled acoustic communication between JAMSTEC's (http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/) Vector Tsunameter on the seafloor and the autonomous Wave Glider vehicle (http://liquidr.com/) on the ocean surface, transmitting realÂtime data to the shore over satellite.
Japan Agency for MarineÂEarth Science Technology (JAMSTEC) has developed and successfully tested the new ocean bottom Tsunameter (The Vector TsunaMeter  VTM), which estimates the tsunami propagation vector based on the ocean dynamo effects.
As a step towards building a VTM network for realÂtime observation, a trial monitoring station was deployed about 200 km East of the Oshika peninsula, Japan (38°14.0 N, 143°35.13 E) in 2013  2014. The Vector Tsunameter was deployed on the seafloor 3420 m deep. Data, collected by the VTM, were transmitted acoustically to surfaceÂcruising Wave Glider and then over satellite transferred to the shore.
The application required fast and reliable data transfers between the VTM and the Wave Glider to transmit critical information in real time. The longÂterm deployment of the instruments demanded low power Âconsuming solutions. Moreover, reducing drag was important for the Wave Glider vehicle on the ocean surface.
Fulfilling these requirements, EvoLogics S2C R12/24 underwater acoustic modems were integrated on both the VTM and the Wave Glider. During the longÂterm deployment of the system in 2013Â2014, the modems provided bidirectional communication between the VTM and the Wave Glider/shore control station. In normal operation mode 1457 bytes were transmitted to the Wave Glider every 1 hour, containing 60 sets of 1 minuteÂlong measurement data samples from the VTM. In TsunamiÂmode, the downside modem was transmitting 161 bytes every 1 minute with 6 sets of 10ÂsecondÂlong measurement data samples.
As the system was deployed from 2014/3/13 till 2014/5/10, it operated in TsunamiÂmode for 4 hours.
On the early morning of April 3, the system successfully caught the tsunami waves propagating towards the Japanese coasts after an 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit 83 km NorthÂWest of Iquique, Chile on April 2nd, 2014 (JST).
EvoLogics GmbH are very grateful to receive positive feedback from its JAMSTEC partners after the successful trial deployment. The modems are now back for check up and maintenance work before the next operation, expected in summer 2015.
EvoLogics and JAMSTEC are discussing a further collaboration on a new projects concerning extending the number of VTM seafloor observatories and monitoring volcanic activity using EvoLogics products.Japan Agency for MarineÂEarth Science and Technology is a Japanese national research institute for marine Âearth science and technology. JAMSTEC's is dedicated to research that advances marine science and technology. EvoLogics GmbH (Berlin, Germany) is a highÂtech enterprise, specializing in underwater acoustic communications, acoustic positioning equipment and innovative solutions for robotics.
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/