About GO-EUREKA

Advancing Near-Real-Time Earthquake and Tsunami Risk Assessment

GO-EUREKA (GNSS-Observation based European system for Earthquake and Tsunami Risk Assessment) is an international research initiative developing a next-generation system for near-real-time (NRT) earthquake and tsunami hazard assessment.

Tsunamis are among the most powerful and destructive natural hazards. They are most commonly triggered by large submarine earthquakes that cause sudden and significant displacement of the ocean. Despite major scientific advances, accurately assessing tsunami potential in near-real time — especially for large magnitude (Mw > 8) earthquakes — remains extremely challenging.

GO-EUREKA was informally established in 2022 to address these fundamental challenges through innovative use of GNSS-based ionospheric observations. The group became formally estabilshed in 2024.

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The Challenge

Tsunami hazard assessment depends on accurately estimating:

• Seismic source dimensions
• The amplitude of co-seismic crustal uplift
• Tsunami wave heights
• Tsunami propagation speed across the open ocean

Current seismo-geodetic methods still struggle to determine the tsunamigenic potential of large earthquakes in near-real time.

This limitation is particularly critical for:

• Local tsunamis (< 800 km from the source; arrival within < 1 hour)
• Distant tsunamis (> 800 km; trans-ocean propagation)

Improving rapid detection and forecasting capabilities is essential for effective early warning and hazard mitigation.

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Our Approach

GO-EUREKA introduces a novel, ionosphere-based monitoring framework that uses quasi-continuous GNSS observations of Total Electron Content (TEC) from:

• Ground-based dual-frequency GNSS receivers
• Ship-based GNSS receivers

These ionospheric observations allow detection of disturbances generated by earthquakes and tsunamis.

Data are collected and pre-processed by the ALTRUIST module (PI: M. Ravanelli).

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Near-Real-Time Hazard Assessment Workflow

The GO-EUREKA system aims to perform the following steps for NRT tsunami hazard assessment:

1. Automatic detection of:

   • Co-seismic ionospheric disturbances (CSID)
   • Co-tsunamic ionospheric disturbances (CTID)

2. Confirmation of disturbance origin

3. Near-field inversion Estimation of earthquake magnitude and co-seismic crustal uplift from CSID features

4. Far-field inversion Estimation of tsunami wave heights and propagation speed from CTID features

GO-EUREKA is working to integrate newly developed rapid simulation tools to confirm the physical link between detected ionospheric disturbances and their seismic or tsunami sources, including the development and use of AI-based detection and classification tools.

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An International Collaboration

GO-EUREKA is a collaborative effort involving leading institutions across Europe and beyond. This broad partnership combines expertise in seismology, ionospheric physics, GNSS geodesy, and tsunami science.

See the full list of participating institutions on our Members page.

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Our Vision

GO-EUREKA aims to transform tsunami early warning capabilities by:

• Providing robust, ionosphere-based constraints on earthquake source parameters
• Improving estimation of tsunami wave heights and propagation speeds
• Enhancing reliability of near-real-time hazard assessment
• Strengthening European and global tsunami preparedness

By leveraging GNSS-based ionospheric observations, GO-EUREKA represents a major step toward more accurate and timely earthquake and tsunami risk mitigation.

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Funding Support

GO-EUREKA members have been supported by the following national and international funding agencies, which enables them to participate in GO-EUREKA.

• French National Research Agency (ANR)
• French National Space Agency (CNES)
• AXA Research Fund
• The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
• The Research Council of Norway (NFR)