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💦 Splish splash, last week's launch was fun! Glad you're back. Take a look at today's stories and answer the poll below, it's easy peesy.
🗳️Poll: Which story are you most excited to learn more about?
Sensing tsunamis
Public comment periods
PNW maritime startups list
More than one
None of them

1. Sensing tsunamis now and in the future

Every region comes with its own set of natural disasters whether tornadoes or tsunamis. Seismic activity is a big deal in the Pacific Northwest, on multiple fronts.

Ten years ago, an undersea earthquake devastated a region of east Japan and set off tsunami alarms on the United States' West Coast. After the tsunami crossed the Pacific, it upended marinas and delivered debris, but coastal residents ended up being curious bystanders, not scared for their lives.

The event is credited with advancing the detection technology for early-warning systems and produced valuable data including an entire digital archive of the disaster. It also accelerated tsunami preparations on the West Coast.

On the shore
In July, the Washington Emergency Management Department announced the statewide tsunami siren network was completed at last. The 122 sirens can be activated by satellite or radio and are audible approximately a mile away, but are not meant to be heard indoors.

The sirens are tested monthly but only once a year with the official "wail sound." That annual test is part of the Great Washington Shake Out drill, taking place on October 21.

On the water
NOAA's Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) system includes 39 buoys and bottom pressure recorders that are part of the national tsunami warning system. It might be surprising to see how much activity is regularly detected, although not at warning levels.

The DART system measures the water column height and sends that data to NOAA's National Buoy Center via satellite.

The full DART network came online in 2008 and includes two DART buoys off the Oregon coast, one off of the Washington coast and another off of Vancouver Island. There are 11 DART buoys off of Alaska.

Below the water
Got a problem? There might be a drone in development for that. Vice reported researchers in Greece began a project this spring to develop drones to detect radioactivity, a precursor to seismic activity, in the sea floor.

The project hasn't splashed yet but the challenges the team faces including adapting seismograph, and radioactive sensors for the seafloor environment, as well as powering an autonomous vehicle underwater, could lead to important developments for all sorts of ocean-going drones.

2. Weigh in on what's ahead, public comment periods ending soon

Many waterways, shorelines, regulations and infrastructure are the result, or influenced by, public policy and projects which may include a public comment period.

Sometimes these public comment periods fly under the radar. As someone invest in the future of the maritime community, here's a chance to submit your comment or at least become aware of a proposed project or policy.
  • Ballard Light Rail bridge
  • Makah Tribal Whale Hunt
    • NOAA's public comment period ends Oct. 19. Learn more and to submit a comment go here. >> KING5 reported on the legal backstory and spoke to Makah Tribal leaders.
  • Port of Seattle 2022 Budget Briefing
    • While not a public comment period, you can register to virtually attend a Maritime and Economic Development Community Budget Briefing on Oct. 20. (I'll be in attendance and report back)
Give a holler: Aware of any other maritime-related projects with public comment periods? Let me know.

3. Database: PNW maritime startups

These "boat tech" and maritime innovators are all based in Washington, Oregon or British Columbia, connected by the Salish Sea and Pacific Ocean. They are younger companies (20 years or less) in various stages of development tackling a wide array of problems through their services or products.

A screenshot of the database

View the database or click the image above.

This is the first Future Tides database and will be maintained on an ongoing basis. Send me ideas for other databases you'd like to see. 

Hiya!

While the content is still evolving, thanks to your questions and community survey responses (please do fill it out or share it, if you haven't yet), Future Tides sits in a unique space.

In the lead up to launching, I scoured the media landscape to ensure Future Tides fills in the gaps. I aim to provide a service, and hopefully a solution, to meet a need I don't see fulfilled: a broader conversation about the possibilities and challenges in the maritime community’s future. 

This includes technology and innovation but also fisheries, regulations, commerce, workforce, liveaboards, environmental impact and more.

There are many sources, subjects and trends to explore, through the lens of the future. But not the too-distant future. That kind of speculative, futuristic take is well covered. I'm looking for what's just on the horizon.

Until next week,
Cara
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