Geophysical and Sea-level Monitoring in Puerto Rico: Recent Developments, Challenges and Lessons Learned
Description:
The Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN) and the Puerto Rico Strong Motion Program (PRSMP) make up the PR network which is the regional authority for monitoring ground shaking in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The mission of the PR is to monitor and rapidly determine the parameters of all earthquakes, support the TSP (Tsunami Service Provider) and help the local and federal monitoring and emergency authorities to disseminate alerts in the Area of Responsibility to concerned agencies and stakeholders. The PR compiles the microseismic catalogue, continuous waveforms, and earthquake effects which serve as a foundation for basic and applied earth science & oceanography research in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The PR net also promote the education and preparedness of our population to mitigate the effects of a significant earthquake or tsunami, working together with local, commonwealth and federal partners.
The circum-Caribbean region has a documented history of large damaging earthquakes and tsunamis that have affected coastal areas, including the events of 1692 (Jamaica), 1867 (Virgin Islands), 1918 & 2020 (Puerto Rico), 1946 & 2010 (Hispanola). There is clear evidence that tsunamis have been triggered by large earthquakes that deformed the ocean floor around the Caribbean Plate (CP) boundary. Seismic events originating in the prominent NE Caribbean fault system are considered to be a near-field hazard for Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands because tsunamis generated by these events can reach coastal areas within a few minutes after the earthquake. Sources for regional and teleseismic tsunami-earthquakes have also been identified in the Caribbean and Atlantic Basins.
The goal of this presentation is to describe the PR system, including the real time earthquake and tsunami monitoring as well as the specific protocols used for location/analysis and to broadcast earthquake/tsunami messages locally.
Session: Network Seismology: Recent Developments, Challenges and Lessons Learned - I
Type: Oral
Date: 4/15/2025
Presentation Time: 08:45 AM (local time)
Presenting Author: Victor
Student Presenter: No
Invited Presentation:
Poster Number:
Authors
Victor Huerfano Presenting Author Corresponding Author victor@prsnmail.uprm.edu Puerto Rico Seismic Network |
Jose Martinez - Cruzado jamc2861@gmail.com University of Puerto Rico |
Jose Rivera jrivera@prsnmail.uprm.edu University of Puerto Rico |
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Geophysical and Sea-level Monitoring in Puerto Rico: Recent Developments, Challenges and Lessons Learned
Category
Network Seismology: Recent Developments, Challenges and Lessons Learned