Scientists may have found a warning sign that can be seen even earlier than sea level rises, because of the magnetic fields created by the waves.
The difference can save lives. Magnetic field data could be used to predict and warn about the waves in the future, giving communities more time to prepare.
Magnetic field disruption has been predicted to be a useful factor in warning systems, but it hasn't been measured alongside sea level increases during real world events.
In previous studies, we didn't have the observation of sea level change.
We have observations of sea level change and they agree with our magnetic data and simulation.
The team looked at the collected data from the two tsunamis.
The magnetic field generated by the waves of a tsunami arrives before the waves themselves, and can be used to predict wave height, according to the numbers.
It's about a minute if you have a deep sea with a 4,800-meter (3 mile) depth. The researchers report that changes in wave height can be detected.
Predicting sea level change can be influenced by both the vertical and horizontal variations in the magnetic field. The field readings will be affected by the estimates of ocean depths and electrical structure below the sea floor.
If your ability to model tsunamis is improved, you could come up with better predictions of what areas might need to be warned.
Not many observation stations are set up to record this type of magnetic field data. The readings only work in deep sea environments where there's less environmental noise.
The team behind the findings say that the additional information gleaned from more sophisticated observation stations would be worth the extra investment.
We already know the terrible consequences that can result when unstoppable waves of water hit the shore without warning, and the findings give us another tool in planning for and minimizing the disruption of natural disasters.
"They did something that needed to be done." We need a study that compares the magnetic field data with the sea level change from the pressure data, and I'm pretty sure they're the first to do that.
The research was published in a journal.
