> > Anybody make a cheap, PIC based floating Tsunami sensor they would
> > like to sell a few thousand of?
> 
> Could you do that?  Floating GPS receiver that detects unusual changes
> (speed and magnitude) in altitude?  Could it transmit info fast enough
> to do any good?  Is the change in altitude in deep sea areas even
> that significant?  Or are you talking about a big but shallow swell
> that only reaches significant height in shallow water?

As I understand, they are doing just that in the Pacific.  Some sort of buoy
that somehow detects the passage of the tsunami.

How, I do not know, but it isn't in place in the Indian Ocean because the
last significant tsunami in the Indian Ocean was caused by Krakatoa in
1883.  Millions or likely billions in capital investment and upkeep to
detect an event that occurs once in 120 years is tough to sell to politicos
in any nation.  Not only that, but with that degree of rarity of occurance,
it would be almost impossible to keep the populace informed as to how
to respond to this incredibly rarely used alarm.

As I understand it, a large number of those killed (in India and Sri Lanka,
at least, where there was no sign of the quake) were people who had
gathered to watch the sea recede.  Wikipedia claims that the recession
of the sea can occur some tens of minutes prior to arrival of the wave,
so even on foot, one stands a good chance of escaping a tsunami if one
were to hoof it inshore quite quickly after that initial portent.  In fact, an
alarm which sounds solely based on that may make an effective warning.

Mike H.
-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist