Tsunamis: bridging science, engineering and society.

Area of Science:

• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Societal Resilience

Background:

• Tsunamis are high-impact, long-duration disasters with minimal warning time.
• Significant progress in tsunami warning systems and preparedness has been made since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
• The 2011 Japan tsunami highlighted persistent challenges in implementing hazard mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review state-of-the-art tsunami warning methodologies and standards.
• To summarize recent advancements in the scientific understanding of tsunamis.
• To identify cross-disciplinary challenges in tsunami hazard mitigation and coastal resilience.

Main Methods:

• Review of current tsunami warning systems and protocols.
• Synthesis of recent scientific literature on tsunami phenomena.
• Analysis of implementation gaps between scientific advances and practical mitigation.

Main Results:

• Despite advancements, effective implementation of tsunami warnings and mitigation remains difficult.
• Progress in understanding tsunami generation, propagation, and impact is ongoing.
• Significant challenges exist in integrating scientific knowledge with societal and engineering practices.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need to bridge the gap between scientific understanding, engineering solutions, and societal preparedness.
• Enhanced collaboration across disciplines is essential for building robust coastal resilience.
• Future efforts should focus on practical application of knowledge to minimize tsunami-related losses.