NASA’s GUARDIAN System Detects Tsunamis Using GPS Signals

NASA’s GUARDIAN system detected a tsunami eight minutes after a recent earthquake. The system uses artificial intelligence to analyze signals from over 350 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations. It identified disturbances from a magnitude 8.8 earthquake near Kamchatka, Russia, on July 29, 2025, which generated a tsunami traveling over 800 km/h toward Hawaii.

GUARDIAN flagged the approaching wave near Kauai 32 minutes before it reached the coast. NASA states current tsunami detection relies on seismic data, computer simulations, and expensive underwater pressure sensors with coverage gaps.

The GUARDIAN system offers a complementary and more cost-effective approach by utilizing existing GPS data. It can also detect other events causing strong disturbances, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and meteor impacts.