Knowra Early warning system Early warning system An early warning system monitors hazards, assesses the risk of impacts, and communicates timely information so people can take protective action before those impacts occur.
Hazard monitoring : The continuous observation of conditions that may indicate a developing or changing hazard. Monitoring supplies the observations that reveal when a threat is forming.
Hazard : A process or phenomenon that can cause harm to people, property, or the environment. A warning system is organized around one or more potentially harmful hazards.
Tropical cyclone warning : An alert that communicates the expected track, intensity, timing, and impacts of a tropical cyclone. Cyclone warnings combine forecasts with advice about wind, flooding, and evacuation.
Lead time : The interval between a warning and the onset of the event or impact it anticipates. More lead time can create opportunities for protective action, though forecasts remain uncertain.
Risk assessment : The systematic evaluation of potential hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and likely consequences. Assessment turns hazard observations into estimates of possible impacts.
Exposure : The presence of people, infrastructure, or assets in places where hazards may cause harm. Exposure identifies what may be affected by the monitored threat.
Tsunami warning system : A network that detects potential tsunamis and communicates alerts to threatened coastal areas. Tsunamis require rapid detection and warning despite short coastal lead times.
False alarm : An alarm that signals a threat that does not occur at the specified place or time. Repeated false alarms can undermine trust in later warnings.
Forecasting : The use of evidence and models to estimate future conditions or events. Forecasts help estimate when a monitored hazard may reach dangerous levels.
Vulnerability : The conditions that make people or systems more susceptible to harm from a hazard. Vulnerability helps explain why the same hazard can cause unequal impacts.
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