Tsunami Early Warning System - John Seach The December 2004 tsunami highlighted the small degree of preparedness the world has for natural disasters. Volcanic eruptions can also cause tsunamis (Krakatoa 1883), therefore tsunami early warning systems must also include a component of volcano monitoring. Only one third of the world's active volcanoes are monitored. One of the largest tsunamis over the past 20 years occurred as the result of a volcanic eruption in 1996 at Karymsky Lake. The strongest eruption event produced a tsunami with a runup of 30 m on the shore. This was compared to 10 m from the December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The eruption of Krakatoa (Krakatau) in 1883 produced a tsunami of 40 m height. There is some debate over the role of Cumbre Vieja Volcano in the Canary Islands, which may be capable of producing a large tsunami which could affect the whole Atlantic Ocean, including the east coast of USA. The role of volcanic eruptions in the generation of tsunamis cannot be ignored.     
Tsunami Early Warning System
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