In the wake of the devastating death toll and the tsunami that hit a number of years ago, urgent demands or calls were made for an early warning system. Indonesia has already committed to that system with the most significant loss of lives in the tragic event - probably more than 81000 people. In Jakarta, Indonesia, the development of this system is anticipated to be endorsed by other impacted nations and significant donors.

According to experts, a sensor network is capable of detecting an earthquake in the ocean, and an imminent tsunami is feasible and will remain ineffective until unless it is backed up by the country's better communication infrastructure.

A tectonic plate boundary a couple of hundred kilometers south of Sumatra island (Indonesia) happened as a consequence of the catastrophe earthquake. One plate slipped underneath the other and pointed the sea bed around 10-12 meters upward. That produced a considerable rise to the Indian Ocean coastlines. The Pacific Ocean, however, is now in operation with tsunami warning system - consisting of a network of seismographs and mare gages connected by satellite to monitoring centers, in Alaska, the USA, and Hawaii.

Seismographs are the first defence line to warn surveillance employees about any big enough earthquakes to generate a tsunami. However, these deadly waves aren't produced in any such quake, so mares are used to determine if changes in ocean depth are in reality on its way.

The problem with the system, however, is that three tsunami warnings in four are false alarms. In such an instance, evacuation is quite expensive and can produce self-indulgence.

Using SMS emergency communication is a thing of the past (not really!) as back in 2003, a more precise United States system of surveillance was initiated and integrated into the early warning system of the Pacific Ocean. DART (Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting) sensors use deep-sea pressure sensors which measure changes in water depth when a tsunami wave goes through the surface.

The detectors pass the data to the boom, which transmits it through the satellite to the surveillance stations when a tsunami waves pass overhead. Only one month after activation, after a tremor in Alaska, the system avoided a false alarm in Hawaii. The DART system is also less susceptible as compared to tide gauges to earthquake harm, but scientists insist that various detection systems are vital.

The seismic signal was identified on 26 December by officials in the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, but could not determine when or where tsunamis were being reported. It was only after hearing reports in the press that the tsunami struck Sri Lanka and after that State Department of Washington, DC sent alerts to Madagascar and Mauritius.

According to a Geoscience Australian researcher commissioned by the Australian government to develop a system of early warning for the Indian Ocean, said that it could consist of Six DART buoys, ten tidal gauges and ten seismographs to detect tsunami or earthquake. He said that it's most likely to cost approx. $20 million to install the sensors.

Well, getting installed a detecting system is only one aspect - but it's also essential that individuals be informed about what they need to do after the alert is raised.

The critical significance of a successful communications system is underlined by the reality that some individuals say that they were unable to receive early earthquake warning alert by officials of their countries. A Thailand expert, on the other hand, realized that a vast ocean tremor could cause a deadly tsunami but could not contact government officers to raise the alarm.