Early warning system

<h2 id="application">Application</h2>
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 <a href="/facts/Warning_system/EmR1zHFP">warning system</a>, which is simply a means by which an alert can be disseminated to the public.

<h3>In defense</h3>
<a href="/facts/Early-warning_radar/AV31R0zL">Early-warning radars</a>, <a href="/facts/Early_warning_satellite/rcIMS0VH">early warning satellites</a>, and <a href="/facts/Airborne_early_warning_and_control/VXDQUphK">Airborne early warning and control</a> are systems used for detecting potential missile attacks. Throughout human history the warning systems that use such have malfunctioned several times, including some <a href="/facts/List_of_nuclear_close_calls/8D1I2Xo2">nuclear-weapons-related false alarms</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a> Due to the massive availability of information through (social) media, early-warning systems that use these vast amounts of information are also developed to potentially detect risks of terrorism and novel terror attacks.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a> This builds on the assumption that aggregated news coverage functions as a <a href="/facts/Wisdom_of_the_crowd/qC8v2k9T">wisdom-of-the-crowd</a> mechanism, where aggregated (and quantified) information can provide a reliable and cost-effective source of information for more accurate and precise predictions.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> 
The easiest or most likely artificial signals from Earth to be detectable <a href="/facts/Detecting_Earth_from_distant_star-based_systems/o6JCctxa">from around distant stars</a> are brief pulses transmitted by such anti-ballistic missile (ABM) early-warning and space-surveillance radars during the Cold War and later astronomical and military radars.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>

<h3>For natural disasters</h3>
Scientists are researching and developing systems to predict eruptions <a href="/facts/Prediction_of_volcanic_activity/dMlFh3ej">of volcanoes</a>, <a href="/facts/Earthquake_prediction/KGtV76NW">earthquakes</a> and other natural disasters.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a>

<h4>Earthquakes</h4>
This section is an excerpt from <a href="/facts/Earthquake_early_warning_system/J0fNlBCh">Earthquake early warning system</a>.[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Earthquake_early_warning_system&action=edit">edit</a>]

An <a href="/facts/Earthquake_early_warning_system/J0fNlBCh">earthquake early warning (EEW) system</a> is a system of <a href="/facts/Accelerometer/xxrXzrlI">accelerometers</a>, <a href="/facts/Seismometer/CCc9vwqf">seismometers</a>, communication, computers, and alarms that is devised for rapidly notifying adjoining regions of a substantial <a href="/facts/Earthquake/NGjIzagw">earthquake</a> once one begins. This is not the same as <a href="/facts/Earthquake_prediction/KGtV76NW">earthquake prediction</a>, which is currently not capable of producing decisive event warnings.
<h3>For diseases</h3>
Early warning systems could be developed and used to <a href="/facts/Pandemic_prevention/wvRq6uGK">prevent and mitigate pandemics</a>, e.g. before they <a href="/facts/Spillover_infection/0wsoX5hN">spillover</a> from other animals to humans, and disease outbreaks.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>

<h3>For climate adaptation</h3>
See also: <a href="/facts/Effects_of_climate_change/M5EvHf14">Effects of climate change</a> and <a href="/facts/Climate_change_adaptation/RoUgv5FF">Climate change adaptation</a>
Because of changes in <a href="/facts/Extreme_weather/gzcNR4BC">extreme weather</a> and <a href="/facts/Sea_level_rise/Pb5MGJxb">sea level rise</a>, due to climate change, the UN has recommended early warning systems as key elements of <a href="/facts/Climate_change_adaptation/RoUgv5FF">climate change adaptation</a> and <a href="/facts/Climate_risk_management/Ys26EKPE">climate risk management</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a> 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a> To this end the UN is running a partnership titled "Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems" to aid high risk countries with neglected warning systems in developing them.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a>
European countries have also seen early warning systems help communities adapt to drought, heat waves, disease, fire, and other related effects of climate change.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a> Similarly the WHO recommends early warning systems to prevent increases in heatwave related morbidity and disease outbreaks.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a>

<h3>Monitoring attempts at solar radiation modification</h3>
U.S. government agencies are operating an airborne early warning system for detecting small concentrations of aerosols to detect where other countries might be carrying out <a href="/facts/Climate_engineering/yo7WTpGe">geoengineering</a> attempts.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a> <a href="/facts/Solar_radiation_modification/Ho5UblE7">Solar radiation modification</a> is thought to have unpredictable effects on climate.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a>

<h3>For chemical concerns</h3>
A large number of <a href="/facts/Chemical_substance/EWcXU41d">chemical substances</a> (approximately 350,000)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a> have been created and used without full understanding of the hazards and risks that they each pose. Chemicals have the potential to cause <a href="/facts/Environmental_degradation/MTI24T7B">environmental degradation</a> and harm to human health. Chemical prioritisation and early warning systems<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a> are being created to help understand which chemicals should be focused upon for regulatory interventions.
The <a href="/facts/Environment_Agency/B1RNS01A">Environment Agency</a> in England have set up a National scale Prioritisation and Early Warning System (PEWS) for <a href="/facts/Contaminants_of_emerging_concern/PEXqkrwP">contaminants of emerging concern</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a>

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
Since the <a href="/facts/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_Tsunami/GpHsI7Wu">Indian Ocean tsunami</a> of 26 December 2004, there has been a surge of interest in developing early warning systems.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Warning_system/EmR1zHFP">warning system</a> for a wider list of applications that also can be supported by early warning systems.

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Bioindicator/smsha83y">Bioindicator</a> — a species that reveals the status of the environment</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Emergency_communication_system/rAHkcxAh">Emergency communication system</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
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</ol>

Early warning system open-in-new

Early warning system