Since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the NGDC/WDC long-term tsunami data
archive has expanded from the original global historical event databases and damage
photo collection, to now include tsunami deposits, coastal water-level data, DARTTM
buoy data, and high-resolution coastal DEMs. These data support many aspects of the
NOAA Tsunami Program, as well as other national and regional tsunami warning
systems. The goal of a tsunami warning system is to provide real-time tsunami
predictions for coastal locations while the tsunami is propagating through the open ocean,
before the waves have reached the coastlines. These predictions are developed from
tsunami propagation and inundation models. The data in the archive are essential input
for the development and validation of these models. The data are also important for
producing tsunami hazard assessments and educating the public about tsunamis.
Therefore, the improvement in the content and access to the tsunami data archive will
ultimately help to save lives and improve the resiliency of coastal communities. The data
archive will continue to grow as observing networks expand, new data are received, and
new partners and data agreements are established. NGDC/WDC is committed to
maintaining a high-quality long-term tsunami data archive by carefully reviewing and
documenting data sources and types, as well as adhering to accepted data and metadata
standards. NGDC/WDC will also continue to search for and evaluate new technologies
for data discovery, integration, and dissemination.