Notice: NDBC plans to conduct testing of its DART (tsunameter) network the week of January 12-16, 2009. Click here for details.

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.

1. Measurement: Sea-level amplitude at a continuous sample rate of 15 seconds over time.
2. 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.
3. Measurement Resolution: 0.25mm at depths 1000-6000 meters.
4. 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.
5. Reliability- 80% or better data return rate over 120 consecutive days.
6. False triggers, not related to natural events: None during 120 day evaluation period.
7. 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.
8. 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)
9. Data acquisition tests*: At least one successful test acquiring one hour of 15 second data during 120 day evaluation period.
10. 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.
11. Other Bottom Pressure Recorder (BPR) commands tests**: At least one successful test for each of the following during 120 day evaluation period.
    1. Turn on "deployment mode" for 30 minutes.
    2. Retrieve engineering data from gage.
    3. Reboot BPR gage electronics.
    4. Reboot buoy electronics.
    5. Change tsunami detection threshold.
12. 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.
13. 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.