First tsunami monitoring deep-sea buoys deployed in the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean faces a tsunami risk, but offshore detection has been limited. MSM Ocean and Sonardyne are helping bring earlier warning through the region’s first deep-sea tsunami monitoring buoys.

The challenge

The Mediterranean Sea region faces significant risk of tsunami due to region-wide seismic and non-seismic (volcanoes, landslides) tsunami sources, with local, regional and basin-wide tsunamis on record.

Historically, the lack of deep-water instrumentation has meant that tsunami warnings have relied on a combination of sensors to record seismic waves and tide gauges to monitor sea level changes, but this instrumentation can only identify a tsunami once it has already reached the coast. This left little time for early warning and evacuation.

The solution

To address this gap, a group of Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology – INGV) researchers and technologists, in their endeavors to study tsunamis and ocean monitoring techniques, selected MSM Ocean and Sonardyne’s complete solution for warning coastal communities of a tsunami.

The result is the deployment of the first two tsunami early detection and warning deep-sea buoys in the Mediterranean.

A vibrant sunset over the sea with a ship's deck in the foreground. Yellow marine equipment, including a large buoy with solar panels, is visible, along with crew members working. Another vessel is in the distance.

Photo from Antonio Costanza, Technologist and Member of the Board of Directors of the Tsunami Warning Centre (CAT) at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

A dark vessel's stern, with crew members deploying a large yellow cylindrical buoy into the calm blue ocean using a crane under a clear sky.

Photo from Antonio Costanza, Technologist and Member of the Board of Directors of the Tsunami Warning Centre (CAT) at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

Two complete buoy and sensor systems were installed in the Ionian Sea, one off Sicily at a depth of 3,200 m and another off Calabria at 2,600 m. Both buoys are located around 100 km from the coast and are positioned at strategic points following a comprehensive tsunami hazard assessment of the area. The system integrates advanced real-time measurement and data transmission technologies:

Sonardyne’s Bottom Pressure Recorder (BPR): Detects sea-level change associated with a tsunami and alarms to the surface using robust acoustic communication.
MSM’s EBM24TS IALA compliant Surface Buoy: Provides reliable communication and navigation aids, powered by solar energy and equipped for deep-water deployment.
Tsunami Sentinel Software: Enables real-time data visualisation and remote management at the tsunami warning centre.

The results

The deployment of these buoys marks a milestone for tsunami monitoring in the Mediterranean. Key benefits include rapid event confirmation, real-time data processing, longer warning times, and operational reliability.

Rapid event confirmation: The system enables near real-time reporting of tsunami-related pressure variations, reducing uncertainties compared to coastal-only sensors.
Real-time data processing: Pressure data from the seabed is received and processed within seconds, allowing alerts based on direct detection of waves in the open ocean.
Longer warning times: Offshore detection provides more minutes for evacuation decisions and activation of emergency protocols, significantly improving public safety.
Operational reliability: The system includes redundant sensors and robust engineering, ensuring high data availability and extended maintenance intervals.
Enhanced monitoring: The infrastructure expands INGV’s capacity to observe the marine environment and generate new data series, contributing to a better understanding of tsunami phenomena and risk assessment in the region.
Remote management: MSM’s Sentinel software platform allows full remote system reconfiguration, simulation of tsunami events, and automated alert notifications, improving operational efficiency and maintenance planning.
Knowledge transfer: Practical training was provided to INGV technicians during deployment, ensuring effective knowledge transfer for ongoing operation and maintenance.

A man in a blue t-shirt and jeans inspects a gray and red Sonardyne Tsunami BPR cylindrical device on a table.

Photo from Antonio Costanza, Technologist and Member of the Board of Directors of the Tsunami Warning Centre (CAT) at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

A large yellow oceanographic buoy with solar panels and a wind turbine floats next to a small boat with two people in life vests on a calm blue ocean.

Photo from Antonio Costanza, Technologist and Member of the Board of Directors of the Tsunami Warning Centre (CAT) at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

“This new infrastructure allows pressure data to be received and processed within seconds, enabling tsunami monitoring in the open ocean.”
— Sonardyne Technical Team

“Through this project, MSM reaffirms its commitment to the development of advanced ocean observation technologies and natural hazard monitoring solutions, supporting the deployment of critical scientific infrastructure for coastal safety and resilience.”
— MSM Oceanography Division

Conclusion:

MSM Ocean and Sonardyne’s solution has strengthened INGV’s capacity for tsunami detection and analysis, expanding the tools available for marine observation and risk assessment. The project stands as a testament to innovation in ocean technology and the importance of international cooperation for coastal safety.

Photos from: Antonio Costanza, Technologist and Member of the Board of Directors of the Tsunami Warning Centre (CAT) at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

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