NOAA Bolsters Tsunami Warning Capabilities with Enhanced Seismic Network in Alaska

A fresh agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Alaska Mesonet, and the seismic network operated by the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Alaska Earthquake Center (UAF AEC) will strengthen real-time tsunami threat detection and warning systems across Alaska and the wider Pacific Basin. The agreement, effective March 1, 2026, funds nine seismic stations owned by the AEC, crucial for providing near-real-time data to NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Centers.

The Importance of Seismic Data for Tsunami Warnings

“Seismic stations are an important dataset for NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Centers to provide real-time warnings that save lives amid tsunamis and related hazards,” stated Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. The National Weather Service, under NOAA, is dedicated to delivering the fastest possible hazard warnings to the American public. This collaboration ensures a continuous stream of real-time data for residents of Alaska – particularly the Aleutian Islands, where tsunamis can arrive within minutes – as well as the Pacific Northwest coast and the broader Pacific region.

Alaska Earthquake Center: A Key Partner

The Alaska Earthquake Center (AEC) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks plays a vital role in monitoring seismic activity in the region. Senator Lisa Murkowski highlighted the AEC as “an unparalleled resource, helping to keep Alaskans safe from natural disasters—on land or at sea.” The funding for seismic sensors in the Aleutians, facilitated through the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, will enhance the speed and accuracy of warnings throughout the region.

Senator Dan Sullivan added that the AEC is “essential to keeping Alaska’s people, communities, and infrastructure safe,” noting Alaska’s high seismic activity and constant risk from earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides. Communities rely on the National Weather Service and its partners, including the AEC, for timely and accurate data and monitoring.

National Mesonet Program Supports Data Stream

The agreement operates through NOAA’s National Mesonet Program (NMP), which purchases observational data from various networks owned and operated by private sector entities and state-academic consortia. This supplemental data enhances NOAA’s existing observing systems, contributing to more robust weather and water condition forecasts both domestically and internationally. The NMP supports tasks including computer maintenance, 24/7 response support, data quality assurance, and regular station monitoring.

Alaska’s Seismic Landscape

Alaska is one of the most seismically active states in the United States, having experienced the second-largest earthquake ever recorded – a magnitude 9.2 event in Prince William Sound in 1964. The USGS notes that comprehensive seismic monitoring in Alaska is a collaborative effort involving the Alaska Earthquake Information Center, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the West Coast-Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (NOAA), and the National Earthquake Information Center.

The Alaska Earthquake Center can be contacted at http://earthquake.alaska.edu/ or by phone at +1-907-474-7320.