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Diagram of the J-Alert system

J-Alert (全国瞬時警報システム, Zenkoku Shunji Keihō Shisutemu/J Ararto) is a nationwide early warning system in Japan launched in February 2007.[1] It is designed to quickly inform the public of various threats and emergencies such as earthquakes, severe weather, and other dangers. The system was developed in the hope that early warnings would speed up evacuation times and help coordinate emergency response.[2]

System

J-Alert is a satellite based system that allows authorities to quickly broadcast alerts to local media and to citizens directly via a system of nationwide loudspeakers, television, radio, email, and cell broadcasts.[3] According to Japanese officials, it takes about one second to inform local officials, and between four and twenty seconds to relay the message to citizens. An enhanced version of the J-Alert receivers were installed by the end of March 2019. The new models can automatically process the information within two seconds, compared to the older models that can take up to twenty seconds.[4]

All warnings, except for severe weather warnings, are broadcast in five languages: Japanese, English, Mandarin, Korean, and Portuguese (Japan has a small Chinese, Korean, and Brazilian population, as well as British, American, and other English-speaking populations). The warnings were broadcast in these languages during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[5] The severe weather warnings are only broadcast in Japanese.

J-Alert broadcasts via both ground systems and the Superbird-B3 communication satellite.[6][better source needed]

When there is a civil emergency such as a ballistic missile heading towards Japan, a special air raid siren sounds across loudspeakers and on TV and radio. When the siren starts, if it ends when the square waves hit at 329 kHz and 203 kHz, that means that a civil emergency is in effect. If the square waves reach 261 kHz and 283 kHz, that means the missile has passed.

Information transmission capabilities

Alert messages sent on 29 August 2017 North Korean missile launch over Japan

Adoption rate

Many prefectures and urban areas were slow in adopting the system. Upon its introduction, the Japanese government hoped to have 80% of the country equipped with the J-Alert system by 2009.[2] However, by 2011, only 36% of the nation had been covered. Cost had been a major factor; the initial installation is estimated to be around 430 million yen, and the yearly maintenance is estimated to be around 10 million yen.

By May 2013, 99.6% of municipalities nationwide were covered.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "J-Alert: disaster warning technology in Japan – Centre for Public Impact". CentreForPublicImpact.org. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Japan Launches Alert System For Tsunamis And Missiles". Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Ｊアラートの概要" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Disaster agency urges municipalities to upgrade J-Alert receivers". The Japan Times Online. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  5. ^ Tsunami Warning in multiple languages.
  6. ^ "東京都地域防災計画" [Tokyo Metropolitan Area Disaster Prevention Plan] (PDF). 東京都防災 (Tokyo Disaster Prevention Information) (in Japanese). 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ Torres, Ida (31 October 2013). "J-alert to serve as early warning system during weather emergencies". The Japan Daily Press. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
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