Towards a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the

Indian Ocean

IOC of UNESCO

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

Established in 1960, part of UNESCOPurpose is

to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in research, services and capacity-building, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine environment, and the decision-making process of its Member States

Tsunami Warning and Mitigation

ICG/ITSU: since 196526 countries in the Pacific regionSystem based on national and regional

centresGlobal network of tsunami scientists

Now: need to act for Indian Ocean

Jakarta, Kobe, PhuketIOC of UNESCO is ready to assistProposalSeeking partnerships

Elements

NationalTWC

NationalTWCNational

TWC

NationalTWCNational

TWC

NationalTWCNational

TWC

NationalTWCNational

TWC

NationalTWCNational

TWC

NationalTWCNational

TWC

NationalTWC

RegionalTWC

RegionalTWCRegional

TWC

RegionalTWCRegional

TWC

RegionalTWCRegional

TWC

RegionalTWC

Internatonal Tsunami

InformationCentre (ITIC)

Regional Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System

Warning Path

RegionalTWC

RegionalTWC

Calculate epicentreand magnitude

Issue Bulletin

NationalTWC

Check SL data if tsunami generated

Danger? decide based on M, epicentre

If yes

If>6.5

Confirm Warning

If yesNational emergency

response (Evacuate or Stay alert)

Earthquakeobservation

6.5<M<7.5: Info7.5<M<7.8: Watch>7.8: Warning

Objective of the System

Develop national and regional capacity to:Assess national tsunami risk (Hazard

assessment)Promote preparedness and risk

reduction against tsunami hazard (Mitigation and Public Awareness)

Establish a national and regional warning system against local and regional tsunamis (Warning guidance)

3 integral components

Processes

GovernanceTechnical implementationCapacity building

Governance

System built and established through International Cooperation within the IOC as a family of Nations

System shall be owned and managed by the Member States of the Indian Ocean region

Built on NATIONAL capabilities and centres

Governance

Local tsunami warning can be handled by national system, but

Regional/Oceanwide tsunami NEEDS regional cooperation, data sharing and coordination

IOC of UNESCO can provide international forum and coordination mechanism

IOC of UNESCO brings 40 years of experience in Pacific region through ICG/ITSU

System to be developed in partnership with member states and other (specialized) agencies synergy, complementarity.

Activity: 1st Coordination Meeting

3-8 March 2005: International coordination meeting for the development of a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Indian Ocean within a global framework (Paris)

1st Meeting expected output

Indian Ocean Member States fully informed at technical level on tsunami warning and mitigation programme;

Draft framework proposal including International, regional and national levels;

1st Meeting Provisional agenda

Day 1: information session on tsunamis, warning system, system components, services & products, hazard assessment, preparedness and awareness, national & regional requirements

Day 2 and 3: Discussions on way forward; review existing proposals and integrate into single strategy

Day 4: The Indian Ocean system in a wider global framework

1st Meeting Participants

National technical/scientific experts with experience in meteorology, geophysics, seismology or ocean observation + managers of existing warning centres

International tsunami expertsOther experts and interested parties

Activity: National Assessments & National Coordination Meetings

Know-how: To assess national capacity in Seismology Sea-level monitoring Natural Hazard Early warning

Structure: National policies and emergency plans; National inter-agency coordination mechanisms; National networking; telecommunication; existing alert and response mechanisms.

Activity: 2nd Reg. Coordination Meeting

End of March 2005:

Regional coordination and planning meeting for the deployment of a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Indian Ocean Venue (Indian Ocean region) to be decided

2nd Meeting expected output

Commitment of Indian Ocean Member States to establish System

Commitment to share dataNational commitments to the regional

component of the System Agreement on multi-hazard approachAgreement on inter-agency partnershipsFormalized commitments of participating

countries and partnersDetailed work plan, budget and timetable(Draft Resolutions for IOC Assembly 2005)

2nd Meeting Participants

High level Government Officials of Indian Ocean Member States

High level donor country representativesHigh level partner organization

representatives

Activity: Public Awareness

Distribution of pamphlets to promote awareness and preparedness

N awareness and preparedness activities  

Activity: Technical implementation

Establishment of core of operational GLOSS sea-level gauges in the Indian Ocean region

Provision of interim tsunami bulletin service

Capacity building

Assist with national assessments Assist with organization of national coordination and

information meetings Provision of equipment Organization of regional training courses in all aspects of

tsunami hazard assessment, mitigation and warning Assistance with development and circulation of public

awareness materials (national/regional) Provide assistance for internships and visiting expert

programmes Any other assistance

IOC Timeline

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

2005

1st C

oord

inat

ion

Mee

ting

(Par

is)

2nd

Coo

rdin

atio

n

Mee

ting

(in r

egio

n)

IOC A

ssem

bly

Nat

iona

l as

sess

men

ts

Capacity Building

Implementation

Partners’ timeline today

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

2005

•25-26/1: China-ASEAN Beijing Workshop•28-29/1: Ministerial Meeting, Phuket, Thailand•16/2: GEOSS, Brussels•21/2: CTBTO Technical Working Group, Vienna•24-25/2: GE-GLOSS-9 Sea Level, Paris•28/2-2/3: Workshop NHK and Asian Broadcasting Union•3/3/-8/3: IOC 1st Regional Coordination Meeting, Paris•7-8/3: Regional Disaster Conference, UN/ESCAP, Bangkok•10-11/3: NWPTIC inauguration, JMA, Tokyo•6-19/3: JICA/ADRC training course, Tokyo•14/3-16/3: WMO GTS workshop, Jakarta, Indonesia•End March: IOC 2nd Regional Coordination Meeting, ?

Deliverables within initial 6 months

GTS connected throughout the region Data of existing observational systems available throughout

the region; GLOSS Sea Level network upgraded in the region PTWC/JMA providing intermediate warning service and

providing to nationally-designated National Tsunami Warning Centres;

National capacity assessed in all participating Member States; Potential Regional Tsunami Warning Centre(s) identified; Capacity building, training and educational programmes

started; Project document (strategy, work plan, timetable, costing

INCLUDING long-term maintenance strategy) prepared and adopted;

Comprehensive Tsunami Risk Reduction Stakeholders build Tsunami Resilient Community

WARNING CENTER OPERATORSWARNING CENTER OPERATORSPacific, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Mediterranean Tsunami Pacific, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Mediterranean Tsunami

Warning CentersWarning Centers

TSUNAMI TSUNAMI SCIENTISTSSCIENTISTSUniversity and University and

Govt ResearchersGovt Researchers

GLOBALGLOBALREGIONALREGIONALNATIONALNATIONALEMERGENCY EMERGENCY

MANAGERSMANAGERSCivil DefenseCivil Defense

Local Authorities Local Authorities