Ocean Networks Canada - port alberni

Resilience through preparedness: remembering the 1964 ‘Good Friday’ tsunami

duncanlowrie@uvic.ca — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 21:15:41 +0000

56 years ago, the ‘Good Friday’ earthquake rocked the Gulf of Alaska, causing a major tsunami to roll across the Pacific Ring of Fire on the evening of 27 March 1964. Few in Tofino were aware of the magnitude 9.2 earthquake or the alerts being sent by the US tsunami warning centre. Three and a half hours after the shaking, a series of tsunami waves swept over beaches and strong currents scoured the Pacific northwest coastline (Figure 1). Being early springtime and late at night in a sparsely populated Tofino, the area suffered no fatalities or injuries and only minor damage was reported. The event was a wake-up call for a risk that was not well understood nor well prepared for.

Figure 1. The 1964 earthquake off the coast of Alaska caused multiple tsunami waves to funnel up the narrow Port Alberni Inlet. There were no casualties, but the disaster damaged buildings, downed phone and power lines, and had a lasting impact on the community. Photo credit: Charles Tebby, Alberni Valley Museum.

Today Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is helping to build resilience in Tofino—and elsewhere in British Columbia—by integrating the latest science and technology into tsunami planning efforts and improving awareness of the risk. Local leaders are partnering with scientists, engineers and tsunami experts to integrate local hazard models, community risk assessments, and tsunami mitigation best practices, to prepare for the next big one. Tofino’s Tsunami Mitigation Plan outlines actionable strategies for decreasing the risks associated with this threat. As a direct result, Tofino has improved understanding of the tsunami risk and what to do to better prepare (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Left: As part of Tofino’s Tsunami Mitigation Plan, the remote Pacific Rim municipality has developed a Tsunami Evacuation Route (left), with a map and information about emergency preparedness for residents and visitors. Right: Installed at Tofino airport in 2015, ONC’s WERA (WavE RAdar) high frequency oceanographic radar array is a shore-based remote sensing system that includes four transmitting and 12 receiving antennas that monitor ocean current speed in real-time.

The future is in real-time. In our highly connected world, tsunami information can be rapidly disseminated across a broad range of communication technologies. For example, technological advances include using high frequency radar to continuously monitor ocean surface levels. Coastal radar, including the WERA radar located at Tofino’s Long Beach Airport, delivers real-time ocean wave height data that can be used for tsunami response decisions and situational awareness (Figure 3).

Figure 3. In October 2016, ONC’s high frequency oceanography WERA radar system provided Tofino with real-time data when Typhoon Songda triggered a tsunami alert. “Real-time data from an instrument like the WERA radar supports critical and lifesaving decision making for coastal communities,” commented Keith Orchiston, Tofino’s Emergency Program Coordinator at that time.

On a broad scale, ONC uses real-time observations of earthquake shaking and tsunami wave heights to support official tsunami alerts and better monitor the tsunami threat. ONC’s Applied Science team uses detailed digital elevation maps and runs tsunami models on high powered computers which inform plans for future tsunamis. Public education on the science of tsunami and public safety best practices support an awareness of the risk and helps people take action to decrease their level of risk. Together, we are moving resilience forward.

Taking appropriate action is key, which is why ONC supports earthquake and tsunami preparedness education and training such as the High Ground Hike tsunami preparedness initiative, Masters of Disasters education program and Great BC ShakeOut earthquake drill.

In a disaster, we’re all in it together. What we do today will influence the outcomes of our next major tsunami event. At ONC, we are doing our part to help coastal communities prepare and become more resilient.

A first anniversary for British Columbia’s community observatories

linzhill@uvic.ca — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 19:11:16 +0000

Coastal communities are facing a variety of rapid environmental changes. Real-time data from cabled observatories can be used by community members to make informed decisions about their coastal and marine resources.

In March 2016, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) continued to push the innovation envelope by deploying three community observatories along the British Columbia coast: in Campbell River, Kitamaat Village, and Prince Rupert (Figure 1). After a year in operation, this first anniversary review celebrates the successes, challenges, and future for ONC’s community observatories.

Figure 1. Map of ONC’s community observatories.

What are community observatories?

Community observatories are scaled-down versions of ONC’s major observatories—NEPTUNE and VENUS (Figure 1). These smaller installations are simpler to deploy in remote areas while allowing for all of the benefits that come from conducting year-round, continuous undersea monitoring.

ONC’s Arctic installation at Cambridge Bay, Nunavut was the first community observatory deployed in August 2012. The success of this observatory—and the community relationships it continues to foster—has provided valuable learning and experience that make additional installations possible.

Figure 2. The first community observatory platform was deployed in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut in 2012.

Prior to installation, ONC engaged with the local communities to share scientific and Indigenous ways of knowing the ocean, assess their ocean science needs, and secure permission to install the instruments. In all locations, the observatories include underwater cameras, hydrophones, weather stations, as well as conductivity, temperature, salinity, and oxygen sensors.

"Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow." ~ William Pollard

Campbell River Community Observatory

Figure 3. Highlights from the Campbell River community observatory installation March 2016

The Campbell River community observatory is located within Kwakwaka'wakw and Coast Salish territories at the southern end of Discovery Channel, a significant shipping route for vessels traveling north from the Strait of Georgia. This narrow inland passage is notorious for its strong and unpredictable currents; the water flows in from both the north and south end of Vancouver Island, meeting just south of the small city of Campbell River.

Figure 4. ONC’s display near the Campbell River community observatory site.

Kitamaat Village

Kitamaat Village is located at the head of Douglas Channel and is home to the Haisla people. The Kitamaat Village community observatory is located at the Haisla Public Works Waste Treatment compound along the waterfront in the village.

Figure 5. Kitamaat Village launch event at the school.

The region surrounding Kitamaat Village is witnessing a substantial increase in industrial development. Before new waterfront development begins, it is important to have a baseline of the local marine environment. These data will provide independent and unbiased observations of any changes to the Kitamaat Village marine ecosystem, while offering the community a new window into their local marine resources.

Figure 6. Flatfish in Kitamaat Village shows why Douglas Channel is so good for fishing!

Prince Rupert

The Prince Rupert community observatory is located within Ts’msyen Territory on British Columbia’s north coast. The Ts'msyen name for Prince Rupert—Kxeen—means "foam on the waters". As North America’s fastest growing port for trans-Pacific trade, the Port of Prince Rupert is working collaboratively with the community to understand the ocean.

Figure 7. The Prince Rupert community observatory is spread over two sites. Both Digby Island and Ridley Island have oceanographic radar systems that triangulate to produce surface current maps that can extend out 20 to 30 kms. An X-Band radar (WaMos), also on Ridley Island, produces a shorter range but higher resolution picture of wave heights, currents, direction, and speed.

Innovation means overcoming challenges

Installing ocean sensors in new locations is always complex and surprising because the ocean is the new frontier. ONC is the first to explore the depths of the northeast Pacific Ocean in real time. Deploying Internet-connected infrastructure and sensors in remote locations with limited connectivity can be a challenge.

Figure 8. Strong currents flow in from both the north and south end of Vancouver Island, where they meet just south of Campbell River.

During this first year, data collection has seen periodic lapses while the ONC team adapts to the unique features of each location. Every challenge is an opportunity for further innovation.

Figure 9. An example of biofouling after a year in the ocean. The accumulation of organic matter on the instruments can cause them to malfunction.

To mitigate the impact of Campbell River’s fast-moving tumultuous waters, an underwater “shield” was installed to protect the ocean sensors from logs and other debris. Unfortunately, this tent-like structure quickly filled up with sediment, so the first installation needed to be improved. The second installation no longer has a shield so now we see very fast moving water at certain times of day (Figure 8).
Biofouling is a common and costly problem in oceanography. A malfunctioning transformer on the remote Digby Island sat idle due to the buildup of organic matter.
Due to the space constraints of Campbell River’s observatory platform, a conductivity, temperature, and density sensor was attached and deployed in a horizontal position. When the sensor failed to provide reliable data, it presented an opportunity for new insights about reducing bio-fouling. ONC discovered that when deployed vertically, this sensor is exposed to the constantly moving current, which keeps it 'clean’ of the green algae bio solids that accumulate on static underwater objects.
The realities of deploying complex Internet-dependent infrastructure is always a learning opportunity. In Prince Rupert and Kitamaat Village, a weak cellular signal limited the amount of instruments that could be functioning at any one time. This meant that EITHER the hydrophone OR the video camera was transmitting data in real-time. Regardless, both instruments gather and locally store continuous data, so the data are uploaded to Oceans 2.0 to create a continuous time series at a later date.
In Kitamaat Village, the pan and tilt camera failed soon after deployment. A new camera will be in place in April 2017.

"Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough." ~Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal and Tesla Motors.

What's next?

After a decade of deep ocean research, the ONC Operations team understands that a new location or innovative product always involves an initial adjustment phase to work out the kinks in the system. In April 2017, the community observatories along the British Columbia coast will undergo their first annual maintenance overhaul to ensure that they continue to gather clean, reliable data.

State of the Ocean plots

Moving forward, the data from the observatories provide us with a continuous ‘state of the ocean’ time series, similar to the 10 year VENUS plot (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Over a decade of continuous ocean data from the Saanich Inlet.

Educating youth

In 2016 and 2017, ONC invited youth and teachers from the three new community observatory towns to attend its annual Ocean Sense Symposium. This provides an opportunity for the next generation to understand the value of these community observatories and what the data are telling them about their local marine environments.

Coming soon to Port Alberni

ONC is excited to announce that a new community observatory will be deployed in the City of Port Alberni in June 2017 (Figure 11).

Figure 11. The proposed community observatory site in Port Alberni.

“The Port Alberni community observatory is important in terms of discovering more about the ocean and inlet that is our marine backyard (Figure 12). It will afford the opportunity for people—locally and from afar—to learn more about this critical ecosystem. We anticipate that its very presence will increase the number of visitors to our area. The City of Port Alberni thanks Ocean Networks Canada for being such a great partner in science.” ~Mike Ruttan, Mayor of Port Alberni.

Stay tuned for updates on these and other community observatories coming to a coast near you.

Figure 12. Seals visit the Campbell River observatory

A Fly-on-the-Wall: Notes from Port Alberni's Exercise Coastal Response

mkasprzik@oceannetworks.ca — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 18:13:52 +0000

As Canada’s west coast braces for a much-anticipated major earthquake, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is working with partners to develop an earthquake early warning system. ONC has also been collaborating with other research agencies to develop preliminary tsunami wave propagation models that provide time of arrival, wave height, and inundation maps. These models—together with ONC’s observatories, sensors, and the new warning system under development—are crucial tools for tsunami preparedness.

Model Animations

Port Alberni

Barkley Sound

West Coast

In June 2016, these preliminary tsunami models were integrated into Exercise Coastal Response, Emergency Management BC’s first ever full-scale earthquake and tsunami response exercise. ONC staff scientist Tania Insua lead ONC’s tsunami modeling project. She traveled to Port Alberni to take part in this ground-breaking week and to experience the aftermath of an earthquake first-hand.

It is an atypical day. I am not sitting in front of my computer at the University of Victoria; instead, I am shadowing Lori Wilson, the mapping and computer expert for the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) in Port Alberni. Canada’s first full-scale earthquake and tsunami exercise, Coastal Response, is about to start.

Lori Wilson in her Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District office.

While most of Port Alberni proceeds with business as usual, a few select locations are targeted with a fictitious magnitude 9.0 earthquake resulting from a rupture of the Cascadia subduction zone off the coast of southwestern British Columbia. ”The Big One” would also generate a tsunami on the west coast of Vancouver Island minutes after the initial shock.

The downstairs floor of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District building is one of the locations that is hit by the mock earthquake. After we drop, cover and hold on, everyone leaves the building, which is being inspected by the Rapid Damage Assessment team. A green sticker goes on the door indicating that the building is safe. In a matter of minutes, the Emergency Operations Centre becomes a beehive of non-stop activity.

The Rapid Damage Assessment team meets after evaluating the damage to several Port Alberni buildings.

As I enter the room, a safety officer in a red vest runs past me. People are standing in small groups. Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District’s Chief Administrative Officer Russell Dyson looks particularly serious in his green vest as he assesses the situation with his staff. The color-coded vests and uniforms help identify the emergency response teams: planning is blue, logistics is yellow, operations is orange, and finance is pale gray.

And then there is the white team. White is the colour of support, the “what-if?” colour that teaches participants what things can go wrong and how to respond. They are the quiet evaluators in the room observing how everything is developing, the ones that throw red herrings at the team. Pieces start falling into place in my head as I get thrown into the Incident Command System pool and begin to learn the meticulous structure that keeps things together during an emergency.

Coloured vests indicate the different sections at the Emergency Operations Centre.

People are moving in and out of rooms and corridors, dealing with a myriad of issues. “We need to secure food! We need a bus to transfer people injured during the earthquake.”

Communications from Port Alberni to the Emergency Operation Centre have been cut; there’s no Internet and no phone service. All we have now is radio communication. An elderly man with a cane walks into the room, holding a little piece of paper. He passes messages to the radio team who are outside in an improvised trailer. They will be Port Alberni’s only antenna to the world for the next two days.

The Port Alberni Arrowsmith amateur radio club helps with communications.

An ambulance officer runs into the operations room; she looks at the phone in her hands and smiles nervously: “Somebody just died.” The team looks at each other, uneasy smiles moving across the room. The thought that “this could be real” crosses our minds and leaves everyone feeling unsettled.

A note on the whiteboard reminds everyone to think outside the box.

The operations continue: “The field team is confirming the inundation caused by the tsunami.” I am all ears. They are covering the area by land, but the helicopter is on the way, so no air survey yet.

My head spins once again. What if we were able to identify specific locations to survey in advance? Or even instrument them with cameras? What if our tsunami models where able to pinpoint areas that would provide an overview of the event, to quickly assess the emergency situation?

An update meeting provides context for everything that is happening. Lori and I run upstairs to generate a map for the tsunami inundation. With no Internet or phones, she has to correctly identify the streets so that the information can be transmitted verbally by radio.

“What is the status of the bridges?” somebody asks. I try to wrap my head around the impact based on the preliminary models that we have been running during the last few months. How can these models help with emergency planning? Can our models simulate the impact on buildings or do we need to use different tools for critical infrastructure?

The planning team reviews imagery from the air survey using Truvian Labs' GIS mapping software.

It’s now Day Two, and the room is even busier today. “Are the phones back?” I hear someone say.

The Coastal Response team is doing an amazing job at keeping a cool head while handling emergency issues. Russell sets a great leadership example by not only keeping an eye on logistics, but also checking in on how everyone is coping. Appreciative and positive comments such as, “I am learning so much from this,” or, “We’ll incorporate that change into our real emergency plan,” are constant.

Briefings help the different teams to coordinate.

The Salvation Army’s Hope Van drops by with coffee for the emergency team and volunteers, while a survey plane flies by. It’s good to see how all the different teams and volunteers work together, adapting to the moment-by-moment changes that are the reality of this situation.

The Salvation Army's Hope Van brings coffee for the team.

The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District has called an emergency Board of Directors meeting. I have been asked to present the preliminary tsunami models of the wave that is expected to hit the town. I explain that the wave generated by the earthquake’s fault displacement needs to propagate over an accurate map. To do this, we need both a Digital Elevation Model that maps the area’s natural features in three-dimensions, and a source model that delineates the earthquake’s unique rupture pattern.

ACRD Chief Administration Officer Russel Dyson (left) present to the Emergency Board.

Our preliminary tsunami inundation videos have simulated a six-hour event that shows the waves still rolling in. I explain that we need to extend the simulation timeline to help us understand when the waves will stop. I show how we can model specific locations that will quickly help to assess the damage.

In the future we could compare a real scenario with pre-modelled scenarios to help the field teams optimize and hasten their evaluations as these maps can help plan evacuation routes. I explain that ONC’s offshore instrumentation can measure the wave before it funnels up the Alberni inlet and hits the town When compared with our models, this information will help everyone understand and identify the wave action that is on its way.

I explain that ONC has prepared the ground work for emergency preparedness and we have the technology and algorithms to develop the rest. This is a great step towards working together more effectively. The presentation is well received and several people approach me to discuss the needs of other coastal communities. I am excited! This is the beginning of an open discussion about emergency preparedness in coastal communities for British Columbia.

Before leaving town, I’m invited to spend the day with the Tseshaht First Nation to spread the word about emergency preparedness with their community and to participate in the Emergency Support Services debrief. I learn just how far ahead the Tseshaht are in their emergency preparedness efforts. They want to be ready.

Two years ago, the Tseshaht led me by the hand as I took my first steps in tsunami science; we organized a workshop that brought tsunami modellers to Port Alberni from all over the world. I will never forget the moment when Tseshaht elder Ron Dick’s recollections of the 1964 Port Alberni tsunami hushed the room, allowing all the modellers to feel the importance of their work.

Tina House (APTN) interviews Tseshaht elder Ron Dick.

As I drive away from Port Alberni, I am overwhelmed with an intense community feeling. I am so thankful to everyone who made this possible, and especially to Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District’s Lori Wilson and Russell Dyson for allowing this fly-on-the-wall into the room, despite limited space. I have learned a lot. I look forward to continuing to work with everyone to improve our emergency preparedness.

Together we can do this. Together we can get ready. Everyone is a critical part of the solution, especially you! Get yourself ready and do your part to get British Columbia ready for “the Big One”!

This project would not be possible without the support of Emergency Management BC, NOAA-NCEI, the University of Victoria, the Tseshaht Nation, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, GeoBC, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, the University of Rhode Island, the University of Paris-Est, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Compute Canada, and Westgrid.

Tsunami Models Used for Preparedness Exercise in Port Alberni

dwowens@uvic.ca — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:40:13 +0000

Ocean Networks Canada’s preliminary tsunami models for Barkley Sound and the City of Port Alberni were integrated into Emergency Management BC’s first ever full-scale earthquake and tsunami response exercise: Exercise Coastal Response in Port Alberni June 7 - 10.

Ocean Networks Canada in collaboration with University of Rhode Island has been developing new tsunami wave models for the area of Barkley Sound and the City of Port Alberni. New fault rupture models have been developed by Natural Resources Canada and University of Victoria personnel. Digital elevation models that reflect the morphology of these two areas have been developed in collaboration with NOAA-NCEI, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, GeoBC and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Together, the Digital elevation models and the rupture models allowed Ocean Networks Canada to generate tsunami models with the support from Emergency Management BC . Support from Compute Canada, Westgrid and researchers from University of Paris-Est and University of Alaska-Fairbanks has also been instrumental in this effort.

These preliminary models provide time of arrival, wave height and inundation maps that are crucial tools for tsunami preparedness. These models, together with ONC’s observatories sensors and the new warning system under development will detect and forecast tsunamis for coastal and First Nations communities in British Columbia. Read the Immediate Response Plan (PDF) in preparation for a real event.

Model Animations

Port Alberni

Barkley Sound

West Coast

More information:

Coming to Nuu-chah-nulth Territory: exciting developments in ocean monitoring

vkeast@uvic.ca — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 11:52:18 +0000

By Maia Hoeberechts, Associate Director, User Services

It’s always a pleasure to visit Port Alberni, an important partner for Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) and the home of the NEPTUNE observatory shore station. Recently, I travelled with our Indigenous outreach team—Jessica Brown and Mercedes Mclean—to this Vancouver Island community and Nuu-chah-nulth Territory, to introduce the latest proposed community observatory site in ONC’s Smart Ocean™ Systems project.

Building on the successful technology and data delivery of the NEPTUNE and VENUS observatories, ONC has developed a smaller, coastal observing system suitable for near-shore installations. The observatory proposed for Alberni Inlet would be equipped with an on-shore camera and weather station, as well as subsurface instruments that monitor and record local water quality, underwater sounds of whales and vessels, and live-stream video from an underwater camera.

An underwater installation takes many steps, starting with conversations and information sessions with local leaders and community members.

We believe that community involvement at all stages of the project is critical to ensure that data collected are relevant and useful to local residents and decision-makers.

Earlier this month, ONC business analyst Teron Moore visited Port Alberni to introduce the observatory at a City Council meeting. During our 20 – 22 January visit, we presented to the Chief and Council of the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations. We also hosted an information session at the NEPTUNE observatory shore station to start the conversation about potential sites for the community observatory. Around 20 community members attended, including Port Alberni Mayor Mike Ruttan. Topics such as local fishing practices, industry interests in the port area, environmental concerns, and existing monitoring in Alberni Inlet were all part of a lively discussion.

Discussion is key to determine the most desirable site for a proposed community observatory at Port Alberni.

Along with the proposed monitoring equipment, ONC is also providing a display for the new Aquarium and Stewardship Centre, opening this summer at the city’s Harbour Quay. West Coast Aquatic is leading its development, which will let a visitor explore a salmon’s habitat from fresh water spawning ground, through the estuary and out to the ocean.

No community trip would be complete without visiting local schools and educational partners. While I presented to a senior computer science class at the Alberni District High School, Mercedes and Jessica met with vice principal, Carl Poole, to invite students and teachers to participate in the Ocean Sense education program. We’re also working with Uu-a-thluk (Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Fisheries Department) to develop a set of ocean knowledge cards, which will link scientific descriptions of local marine organisms with their importance as Indigenous foods and remedies.

With all these exciting new initiatives underway, we look forward to building more local connections to ocean science and education in the Alberni Valley.

Jessica and Mercedes are helping Port Alberni's Canal Beach Park restoration effort by showcasing ONC posters in the waterfront kiosk.

NEPTUNE Canada contributes to “permanent” Tsunami Centre in Port Alberni

rlat@uvic.ca — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0000

On Friday, July 17, 2009 NEPTUNE Canada, with support from Ocean Networks Canada, contributed to a permanent Tsunami Centre in the Hutcheson Gallery at 2750 Harbour Road, Port Alberni, BC.

In 2008 Ken Hutcheson, Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society President, approached NEPTUNE Canada to ask if it would contribute information on the science of tsunamis to complement a historical display, mounted by the Alberni Valley Museum, on the 1964 tsunami.

Leslie Elliott, project coordinator for NEPTUNE Canada worked with project scientist, Brian Bornhold and scientists from DFO, NRCan and Simon Fraser University to produce a comprehensive overview showing British Columbia’s west coast and the locations of earthquake and tsunami instrumentation on land and in the ocean, types of instrument used, and examples of scientists involved. Leslie spoke about the display and the NEPTUNE Canada project to an engaged group of community members, including former mayor, Gillian Trumper and town manager, Ken Watson.

The NEPTUNE Canada shore station is located in Port Alberni; NEPTUNE Canada has been working with the Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society since 2006 in providing displays about the project for both the community and visitors.

Ocean Networks Canada - port alberni

Resilience through preparedness: remembering the 1964 ‘Good Friday’ tsunami

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A first anniversary for British Columbia’s community observatories

What are community observatories?

Campbell River Community Observatory

Kitamaat Village

Prince Rupert

Innovation means overcoming challenges

What's next?

State of the Ocean plots

Educating youth

Coming soon to Port Alberni

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A Fly-on-the-Wall: Notes from Port Alberni's Exercise Coastal Response

Model Animations

Port Alberni

Barkley Sound

West Coast

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Categories:

Tsunami Models Used for Preparedness Exercise in Port Alberni

Model Animations

Port Alberni

Barkley Sound

West Coast

Tags:

Categories:

Coming to Nuu-chah-nulth Territory: exciting developments in ocean monitoring

By Maia Hoeberechts, Associate Director, User Services

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NEPTUNE Canada contributes to “permanent” Tsunami Centre in Port Alberni

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