Early warning system

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This article is about disaster detection systems. For military anti-missile systems, see Early-warning radar.
"Early warning" redirects here. For other uses, see Early warning (disambiguation).
A HSS Engineering TWS 295 electronic sirens warning Civil Defense siren.

An early warning system can be implemented as a chain of information communication systems and comprises sensors, event detection and decision subsystems. They work together to forecast and signal disturbances that adversely affect the stability of the physical world, providing time for the response system to prepare for the adverse event and to minimize its impact.[1]

To be effective, early warning systems need to actively involve the communities at risk, facilitate public education and awareness of risks, effectively disseminate alerts, and warnings and ensure there is constant state of preparedness.[2] A complete and effective early warning system supports four main functions: risk analysis, monitoring and warning; dissemination and communication; and a response capability.[3]

Application[]

Risk analysis involves systematically collecting data and undertaking risk assessments of predefined hazards and vulnerabilities. Monitoring and warning involves a study of the factors that indicate a disaster is imminent, as well as the methods used to detect these factors. Dissemination and communication concerns communicating the risk information and warnings to reach those in danger in a way that is clear and understandable. Finally, an adequate response capability requires the building of national and community response plan, testing of the plan, and the promotion of readiness to ensure that people know how to respond to warnings.

An early warning system is more than a warning system, which is simply a means by which an alert can be disseminated to the public.

For climate adaptation[]

Because of changes in extreme weather and sea level rise, due to climate change, the UN has recommended early warning systems as key elements of climate change adaptation and climate risk management.[4] Flooding, cyclones and other rapidly changing weather events can make communities in coastal areas, along floodzones and reliant on agriculture very vulnerable to extreme events.[4] To this end the UN is running a partnership titled to aid high risk countries with neglected warning systems in developing them.[4]

European countries have also seen early warning systems help communities adapt to drought, heat waves, disease, fire, and other related effects of climate change.[5] Similarly the WHO recommends early warning systems to prevent increases in heatwave related morbidity and disease outbreaks.[6]

History[]

EWS Observer Controller Model and the Subsystem

Since the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004, there has been a surge of interest in developing early warning systems.[7][8] However, early warning systems can be used to detect a wide range of events, such as vehicular collisions, missile launches, disease outbreaks, and so forth. See warning system for a wider list of applications that also can be supported by early warning systems.

References[]

  1. ^ Waidyanatha, Nuwan (2010). "Towards a typology of integrated functional early warning systems". International Journal of Critical Infrastructures. No 1. 6: 31–51. doi:10.1504/ijcis.2010.029575. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  2. ^ Wiltshire, Alison (2006). Developing Early Warning Systems: A Checklist (PDF). Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Early Warning EWC III, Bonn (Germany).
  3. ^ "Basics of early warning". Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Nations, United. "Early Warning Systems". United Nations. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  5. ^ "Establishment of early warning systems — Climate-ADAPT". climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  6. ^ "Early warning systems". www.who.int. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  7. ^ Basher, Reid (15 August 2006). "Global early warning systems for natural hazards: systematic and people-centered". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. 364 (1845): 2167–2182. Bibcode:2006RSPTA.364.2167B. doi:10.1098/rsta.2006.1819. PMID 16844654. S2CID 6252454.
  8. ^ "Japan provides early warning example". UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. 15 Mar 2015.
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