Mapping the Sea

In an effort to prepare U.S. coastal communities for tsunami and storm-driven flooding, scientists are creating high-resolution digital elevation models, or DEMs, designed to improve forecasting for early tsunami warning systems.

The DEMs are constructed from near-shore seafloor depth and land elevation data to create detailed representations of coastal relief. They provide the underlying framework necessary to accurately forecast the magnitude and extent of coastal flooding during a tsunami event.

Since the effort started early this year, the team has created DEMs for a handful of locations. They expect to complete more than 100 DEMS for U.S. coastal communities in the coming years.

--LiveScience Staff

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Credit: NOAA