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December 2007                                                                                              Volume 13 - Number 3

Perspectives...

Update on Implementation and Use of the Tsunami Warning System in the Indian Ocean
By Mike Molnia

    The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS) is a warning system which was set up to provide early warnings to the populations of countries surrounding the Indian Ocean.  The tsunami warning system has been operational since June, 2006.  The creation of this tsunami warning system began following the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake which created a tsunami that killed nearly 230,000 people living along the Indian Ocean coastline.

    UNESCO has been the lead organizing agency in helping to create this warning and mitigation system. The creation of IOTWS is one of the critical components that must be completed before an International Early Warning Program (IEWP) can exist. The IEWP is a concept created in 2003 to provide more safety to populations around. The purpose of the IEWP would be to serve as a central data point for worldwide disaster communication.  

    The objective of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS) is to effectively mitigate the hazard posed by local and distant tsunamis in all parts of the Indian Ocean in order to save lives and reduce property and damage. The IOTWS is an intricate system of seismic event monitoring stations, linked to data interpretation systems, linked to warning dissemination systems, which are meant to inform the target population of a possible tsunami heading towards their geographic location.

    In its current operational status, the IOTWS relays information from 41 coastal stations to the Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWC) and Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) are serving as the interim operational tsunami advisory centers for the IOTWS. The IOTWS member countries will gather the data that is sent to the PTWS and JMA, who will then evaluate the data and decide whether to send any advisories out to the IOTWS member states, as well as to other nations or states surrounding the Indian Ocean regarding confirmed earthquakes and possible or confirmed tsunamis.

According to the draft resolution to come out of the latest ICG-IOTWS meeting held from February 28-March 2, 2007, the next two major milestones are to:

-    Develop by the end of 2007 an implementation plan for an interoperable system of Regional Tsunami Watch Providers, including a transition from the interim service providers for presentation to the next meeting of the ICG/IOTWS

-    Work towards providing full regional coverage for the Indian Ocean countries by the end of 2008.

Sources

1.    Users Guide for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System Interim Tsunami Advisory Information Service:
http://ioc3.unesco.org/icg/files/IOTWSInterimAdvisoryService_UsersGuide(1).pdf

2.    Official UNESCO IOTWS Website: http://ioc3.unesco.org/indotsunami/

3.    `Presentation Documents from Feb. 28- Mar. 2, 2007 Meeting of ICG-IOTWS IV: http://ioc3.unesco.org/icg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6&Itemid=7