Assessment of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center’s Capabilities for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands based on the Computation of Detection and Response Times Accounting for Seismic Network Topology and Data Latencies

2018 ◽  
Vol 89 (2A) ◽  
pp. 424-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Sardina ◽  
Kanoa Koyanagi ◽  
Nathan Becker ◽  
David Walsh ◽  
Charles McCreery ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 1865-1880
Author(s):  
Victor Sardina ◽  
David Walsh ◽  
Kanoa Koyanagi ◽  
Stuart Weinstein ◽  
Nathan Becker ◽  
...  

Abstract. In September 2017, hurricanes Irma and Maria wreaked havoc across the Caribbean region. While obliterating the infrastructure in the Caribbean nations found along their path, both hurricanes gradually destroyed the existing seismic networks. We quantified the impact of the hurricanes on the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) initial tsunami warning capability for the Caribbean region relying on the computation of theoretical earthquake detection and response times after accounting for hurricane-related station outages. The results show that the hurricanes rendered 38 % of the 146 stations available in the Caribbean inoperative. Within the eastern Caribbean region monitored by PTWC the hurricanes exacerbated outages to an astonishing 82 % of the available 76 seismic stations. Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Lesser Antilles suffered the brunt of both hurricanes, and their seismic networks nearly disappeared. The double punch delivered by two successive category 5 hurricanes added up to 02:43 and 04:33 min to the earthquake detection and response times, effectively knocking out PTWC's local tsunami warning capabilities in the region. Emergency adjustments, including the temporary reduction of the number of stations required for earthquake detection and ML magnitude release, enabled a faster response to earthquakes in the region than otherwise possible in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval

Abstract Emilia sonchifolia is an annual herb believed to be native to China and South-East Asia. Since spreading from its natural range, E. sonchifolia now has a pan-tropical distribution and is naturalized elsewhere in Asia, as well as in Australia, the Pacific Islands, Africa and the Americas. This species has been reported as a weed for a number of crops and has been shown to reduce yields and act as a reservoir for crop pathogens. Currently it is listed as invasive in India, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Costa Rica, the Galapagos, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Madeira, Réunion, Hawaii and on many other islands in the Pacific Ocean. Mechanical control has been shown to be effective, and chemical control has been effective in some annual and perennial crops.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval

Abstract Urochloa reptans is an annual grass regarded as native to Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, Australia and the Pacific region, although its status is ambiguous in many countries. The species grows forming clumps of slender, creeping culms up to 50 cm tall that are capable of displacing other plants and grasses. It is considered an important weed in agricultural lands and pastures, but it can also invade disturbed sites, degraded forests, coastal areas, river and creek beds, and riparian forests. Currently, it is listed as invasive in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and some islands in Oceania, where it has been reported invading relatively undisturbed forests.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Sardina ◽  
David Walsh ◽  
Kanoa Koyanagi ◽  
Stuart Weinstein ◽  
Nathan Becker ◽  
...  

Abstract. In September 2017, hurricanes Irma and Maria wreaked havoc across the Caribbean region. While obliterating the infrastructure in the Caribbean nations found along their path, both hurricanes gradually destroyed the existing seismic networks. We quantified the impact of the hurricanes on the PTWC tsunami warning capability for the Caribbean region relying on the computation of theoretical earthquake detection and response times after accounting for hurricane-related station outages. The results show that the hurricanes rendered inoperative 38 % of the 146 stations available in the Caribbean. Within the eastern Caribbean region monitored by PTWC the hurricanes exacerbated outages to an astonishing 82 % of the available 76 seismic stations. Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Lesser Antilles suffered the brunt of both hurricanes, and their seismic networks nearly disappeared. The double punch delivered by two successive category 5 hurricanes added up to 02:43 and 04:33 minutes to the earthquake detection and response times, effectively knocking out PTWC's local tsunami warning capabilities in the region. Emergency adjustments, including the temporary reduction of the number of stations required for earthquake detection and ML magnitude release, enabled a faster response to earthquakes in the region than otherwise possible in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval

Abstract Emilia sonchifolia is an annual herb believed to be native to China and South-East Asia. Since spreading from its natural range, E. sonchifolia now has a pan-tropical distribution and is naturalized elsewhere in Asia, as well as in Australia, the Pacific Islands, Africa and the Americas. This species has been reported as a weed for a number of crops and has been shown to reduce yields and act as a reservoir for crop pathogens. Currently it is listed as invasive in India, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Costa Rica, the Galapagos, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Madeira, Réunion, Hawaii and on many other islands in the Pacific Ocean. Mechanical control has been shown to be effective, and chemical control has been effective in some annual and perennial crops.


2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Renken ◽  
W. C. Ward ◽  
I.P. Gill ◽  
Fernando Gómez-Gómez ◽  
Jesús Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
...  

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