GUARDIAN, NASA’s experimental system for detecting tsunamis using signals from space, achieved significant success during the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, last week.

NASA Succeeds in Tsunami Detection

This massive earthquake, which occurred just one day after the system’s new components were commissioned, marked GUARDIAN’s first large-scale test. The system detected pressure waves from the earthquake within 20 minutes, alerted experts, and confirmed the initial signals approximately 40 minutes before the tsunami waves reached Hawaii and the Pacific coasts.

Unlike traditional ocean-based measurement devices, GUARDIAN uses signals from space to detect tsunamis. When tsunamis displace large bodies of water on the surface, they create low-frequency sound and gravity waves in the atmosphere.

When these waves reach the ionosphere, they disrupt Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals. GUARDIAN detects these disturbances by scanning data from more than 350 continuously operating GNSS stations worldwide. This allows coastal communities to receive up to 1 hour and 20 minutes of additional warning time under favorable conditions.

One of the system’s key advantages is its ability to detect tsunamis, which can occur not only from earthquakes but also from other causes such as volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides, or certain weather events.

Current early warning networks rely on deep-ocean pressure sensors, which are expensive and available in limited numbers. GUARDIAN offers a faster, more widespread, and more cost-effective alternative on a global scale.