Four researchers from the Géoazur Institute in Nice are currently focusing on how to gain a few seconds, or even a few minutes, to prepare for the arrival of a tsunami or an earthquake. On Thursday, March 26, they held a seminar at the Research Institute for Development (IRD) to present several innovative techniques.
One of these techniques is the Tamtam cable project, which aims to connect Port-Vila to Lifou by the end of 2027. According to Alistair Trabattoni, a research associate at IRD, the goal is to install a new telecom cable and consider its use for scientific applications in the field of geosciences. Instruments will be placed in the cable with multiple sensors measuring various physical parameters such as temperature, acceleration, pressure, and ground speed.
These data will enable faster alerts, providing a better understanding of the subduction zone that separates New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The advantage of this cable is that it will allow sensors to be positioned closer to the underwater fault, which is crucial for more effective alert systems to predict seismic waves and tsunamis.
The New Caledonia seismological network dates back to the 2010s and has not evolved since. There is a basic alert system for earthquakes, which sends SMS notifications to local authorities. Thanks to recent research and the involvement of colleagues, this system could potentially be improved and made more reliable.
Another initiative involves an artificial intelligence algorithm developed by Quentin Bletery, a research director at IRD, and his team. The algorithm aims to provide faster and more accurate alerts for earthquakes, particularly crucial for tsunami warnings. It detects slight variations in the earth’s gravity caused by earthquakes and has the potential to enhance tsunami alerts and improve disaster response.
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