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DART® Design Capabilities Test Procedures
The procedures/tests below are used by NOAA to demonstrate DART® design capabilities. Different tsunami detection technology would have to have similar procedures/tests.
- Measurement: Sea-level amplitude at a continuous sample rate of 15 seconds over time.
- Measurement accuracy: Agreement within 1.0 cm in the observed tides deployed in similar depths off Hawaii within 100 nm of operational DART® station using a standard tide model for tidal adjustments between stations.
- Measurement Resolution: 0.25mm at depths 1000-6000 meters.
- Performance measure: Comparison of Standard Mode data with harmonic tidal analysis shows agreement within 5 cm (average) over a 14 day period during the 120 day evaluation period.
- Reliability- 80% or better data return rate over 120 consecutive days.
- False triggers, not related to natural events: None during 120 day evaluation period.
- Data delivery; Request Mode*:
- Gage Trip: Elapsed time from request for data to receipt of data at the tsunami warning center's server less than 10 minutes.
- Gage 15sec data (1 hour duration): Elapsed time from request for data to receipt of data at the tsunami warning center less than 15 minutes.
- Data delivery; Event Mode*:
- Gage Trip: Elapsed time from trip to receipt of data at tsunami warning center's server: less than 3 minutes; and display on the NDBC web site: less than 5 minutes (pre-selected times via software setup)
- Data acquisition tests*: At least one successful test acquiring one hour of 15 second data during 120 day evaluation period.
- Performance measure: Comparison of 15 sec data with DART® station data with harmonic tidal analysis shows agreement within 5 cm (average) over a 1 hour period during the 120 day evaluation period.
- Other Bottom Pressure Recorder (BPR) commands tests**: At least one successful test for each of the following during 120 day evaluation period.
- Turn on "deployment mode" for 30 minutes.
- Retrieve engineering data from gage.
- Reboot BPR gage electronics.
- Reboot buoy electronics.
- Change tsunami detection threshold.
- Tsunami Test Mode: In the event of a detectable tsunami the test buoy tsunami data will be compared with operational DART® station data. Amplitude and phase comparison should show 90% or better agreement after properly taking into account the differences in tsunami amplitude differences and arrival times between the two stations.
- Performance results are provided to and documented in accordance with standards of the NOAA Tsunami Program.
Note:
* These tests are to be conducted by tsunami warning personnel during 120 day evaluation period. Each test is documented.
** These tests are conducted by NDBC personnel during the 120 day evaluation period. Each test is documented.
Much of the material presented here was excerpted from the Technical Paper "Real-Time Deep-Ocean Tsunami Measuring, Monitoring, and Reporting System: The NOAA DART® II Description and Disclosure;" by Meinig, Stalin, Nakamura and Milburn; June 4, 2005.