UNESCO/INTERNATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 PARIS 002831

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TPHY AORC OTRA PBTS WWT UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO/INTERNATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION
MEETING COORDINATES INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM

Ref: STATE 33352


1. Summary and Introduction:
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)convened
The International Coordination Meeting for the development
of a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the Indian
Ocean within a Global Framework, at UNESCO Headquarters in
Paris, 3-8 March 2005. The meeting reinforced the IOC's
lead role in coordinating global and regional tsunami
warning systems, a primary USG goal. (The USG supports
expanding the Pacific Tsunami Warning network -- which
exists under the auspices of the IOC -- to the Indian Ocean
and other at risk areas, within the framework of the Global
Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The meeting
also resulted in the establishment of an International
Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation
System for the Indian Ocean, whose terms of reference will
be approved at the IOC's General Assembly in June, as well
as in the setting up of a process and timeline to design a
basin-wide Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS).


2. The meeting concluded with a communique that underscored
national responsibility for establishing and managing
national warning systems, emphasized the critical role of
education for community preparedness, and urged all
countries to engage in capacity building and technology
transfer in the Indean Ocean region. It was decided that
the IOTWS would consist of a coordinated network of national
systems; though several countries vied for serving as the
regional coordinator, there was no consensus on the matter.
The communique also recommended that all Member States "make
every endeavor" to share seismic, sea-level and other data
relevant to tsunamigenic events at or near real-time.
Within the IOC, the US has consistently supported open and
free exchange of data, including in the context of tsunami
warning systems; this is likely to remain a contentious
issue as the IOTWS moves forward. The communique and all
presentations are available at
http://ioc.unesco.org/indotsunami.


3. IOC will sponsor a follow-up meeting in Mauritius, 14-16
April, with the aim to develop the draft design and work
plan for presentation to the June IOC General Assembly. For
additional information, contact Liz Tirpak (DOS/OES,
tirpakej@state.gov, 202-647-0238) End Summary and
Introduction.

MEETING OVERVIEW
--------------


4. The IOC hosted the International Coordination Meeting
for the Development of a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation
System for the Indian Ocean within a Global Framework, in
light of the tragic loss of life and massive destruction
caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004.


5. The U.S. policy statement, made by Head of Delegation
and U.S. Representative to the IOC Executive Council, NOAA
Assistant Administrator Dr. Richard Spinrad, was well
received (full text at end of cable). U.S. technical agency
experts (USGS, USAID, NOAA) made formal presentations,
intervened on key points and participated actively in all
working groups. The experience of the U.S.-hosted Pacific
Tsunami Warning Center was acknowledged by several speakers.

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6. Many U.S. delegation goals were reinforced in the
opening statement by UNESCO Director-General Koichiro
Matsuura, who emphasized IOC's role in linking
internationally- run detection/alert systems with nationally-
run warning systems. He underscored that a tsunami warning
system should be fully embedded in the global ocean
observing system (GOOS) that is regularly used for other
hazards, such as storm surges and tropical cyclones.
Following the February Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS) meeting and third Earth Observation Summit
in Brussels, Matsuura noted that "synergies between existing
and new systems will make possible a multi-hazard approach
that should improve the cost-effectiveness and long-term
sustainability of the overall system." Lastly, he drew
substantially on the experience of the Pacific Tsunami
Warning Center in designing and operating a warning system
TWS, providing for open, free and unrestricted exchange of
data and information, and promoting the three components of
a TWS: tsunami hazard assessment; detection/warning system;
and adoption of preparedness measures.


7. Twenty IOC member states offered various levels of
support for the creation of an Indian Ocean tsunami warning
system. No nation rejected the idea, but no nation pledged
support without conditions. (Note: Australia, India,
Indonesia, and Thailand appear to have the most advanced
planning with funding to back their plans. All three plans
are based on the Pacific Ocean Tsunami Warning System (PTWS)
of an integrated approach of hazard assessment, warning
guidance, and preparedness, with India's plan being the most
comprehensive. End Note.)


8. Data Exchange Issue - Several participants acknowledged
that "immediate, free and open distribution of raw data from
observing systems in real time" should serve as the founding
principle for all regional and global tsunami warning
systems, while India could offer only "international product
sharing." Other participants suggested that the IOC Data
Exchange Policy, adopted by the Assembly in 2003, should
serve as the "guiding principle" for IOTWS. (Note: Though
the U.S. endorsed the IOC Data Exchange Policy, the Policy
refers only to oceanographic data, not to seismic or other
types of data crucial to an effective tsunami warning
system.) The Communique ultimately recommended that all
Member States "make every endeavor" to share seismic, sea-
level and other data relevant to tsunamigenic events at or
near real-time.


9. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the Japan
Meteorological Agency agreed to provide interim tsunami
alerts to the Indian Ocean region based on existing
facilities until adequate warning capabilities are
established within the region. Four nations in the region
(Australia, India, Indonesia, and Thailand) confirmed their
plans to establish systems and capacities to detect and
measure tsunamigenic events and issue appropriate warnings
to forecast their impacts. Until and unless a regional
center is identified, the national centers agreed to supply
product and services to other national centers in the
region.


10. Discussions were organized by topic, addressed first in
panel and later in three separate working groups. The three
main topics were technical aspects, organizational aspects,
awareness and preparedness.

Technical Aspects
--------------


11. The panel on the technical aspects of tsunami warning
systems (TWS) was chaired by the representative from
Indonesia who presented some graphical material on the
effects of the recent tsunami and the need for improvement
of monitoring and warning technologies in the Indian Ocean.
The panel was made up of scientific and technical
presentations by experts from the Russian Federation and
Japan. The Russian expert presented statistics on tsunami
occurrence and likelihoods of tsunami generation and their
severity from earthquakes of various magnitudes. The
Japanese experts covered the current technologies used in
Japan to detect tsunami and issues warnings, with particular
emphasis on the challenges of warnings of local tsunamis
compared to those caused by distant earthquakes.
Presentations also reviewed the factors controlling tsunami
height and on-shore run-up. The Chair of the IGC/ITSU gave
the most scientifically controversial presentation by
describing "emerging technologies" for tsunami detection and
warning, including perturbation measurement from the
ionosphere, infrasound measurements, satellite-based ocean
height measuring systems, and on-shore radar.


12. Dr. Neville Smith (Australia) chaired the technical
aspects a working group, which was tasked to identify and
recommend: (1) the technological basis for a tsunami warning
system (measurements and telecommunications, analysis,
processing and hazard/risk assessment); (2) design elements
of an IOTWS, (3) the strategy for building an IOTWS, and (4)
new technologies and research and development needed. The
resulting report consists of provided both general and
specific a series of bulleted points recommendations that
will be considered in for the preparation of the design
plan:
- free and immediate flow of raw observational data, in
real time over robust communication links, to all national
and regional participants in the system is a necessary
component for TWS.
- common approaches to data processing, hazard and risk
modeling, and warning dissemination and message format are
essential.
- coastal bathymetry, sea floor configuration, topography
and land mapping are essential and must be carried out and
be made available in high resolution format for all at-risk
national coastal regions.
- utilization of new technologies should be explored.
- the requirements for use of space technology for
tsunami applications must be defined.

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- network must enable the rapid verification of tsunami
waves from sea-level and ocean-bottom sensors.
.- geostationary communication satellites operating in the
Indian Ocean region and the use of Global Telecommunication
System (GTS) of WMO, currently operational used for the
Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWS) for collection of sea-
level observations and distribution of bulletins and
warnings, should be upgraded within 6 months and fully
operational to address needs of the Indian Ocean region in
the interim and longer-term be explored.
- broadband is needed for real-time distribution of seismic
data.
- telecommunication systems that meet these requirements
should be identified and utilized.
- risk management framework should be employed and
complemented by robust models and scenarios of historical
and potential tsunami events that can be used in the
formation and dissemination of warnings.
- for both seismic and sea level networks - upgrades must
must be identified and prioritized.
- establishment of deep ocean buoys useful for tsunami
monitoring is needed.
- cable-based systems should also be assessed as these
instruments are important for slumping events and other
events that are not seen in seismic measurements.
- network planning should start with identifying and
mapping the tsunami prone areas. This should be based upon
a historical study of earthquake and tsunami occurrences.
- robustness and durability of the instruments and the
system as a whole to the impacts of the earthquakes needs to
be considered
- emerging technologies should be considered in the overall
strategy, to ensure the evolution of the system relative to
best practice.


13. During the instrumentation and communication
discussions, vocal participants with narrow interests often
held the floor and carried their positions forward.
Nevertheless, there was the recognition that many of the
pieces for the ITOTWS are in place or in progress; the
challenge rests in putting the pieces together in a
structure that has the needed telecommunication, data
processing, and warning dissemination capacities.


14. The general strategy of the IOTWS was defined to
include: immediate, free and open distribution of raw data
from the observing systems in real-time must be acknowledged
as a founding principle for all regional and global tsunami
warning systems, since without, both the timeliness and
effectiveness of the system may be severely compromised. It
was noted that many of the standards that underlie the
systems for open data collection and exchange can be adopted
( or adapted) from already established international
systems. A sustained and reliable network will require
sustained investment, national commitments, and
international cooperation.


15. In terms of the technological implementation, it was
agreed that the tsunami warning system as a whole should be
build on and be a part of a multi-purpose system, since .
the sustainability of the observing system including cost
effectiveness and efficiency are also enhanced with such an
approach.


16. As the tsunami early warning system will be based upon
various data acquisition and dissemination platforms, it was
emphasized that the

-network of stations for tsunami early warning should be
constantly monitored to guarantee its reliability and
effectiveness.
- data must be quality controlled, and archived for post-
event assessment and research.
- observation systems should be qualified and certified.
- warning criteria and standards need to be established
drawing from PTWC protocols.

The legal responsibility for issuing warnings (that may lead
to evacuation) are assumed by national centers (unless other
arrangements are agreed upon by countries).

Organizational Aspects
--------------


17. The panel on "Organizational and Practical Arrangements
for a Regional Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System"
featured presentations by the national programs of Chile and
Japan. Dr. Charles McCreery, Director Pacific Tsunami
Warning Center, and Dr. Laura Kong, Director, International
Tsunami Information Center (ITIC) presented regional

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dimensions.


18. It was noted that National centers are responsible for
interpreting warning guidance from regional center(s),
issuing local warnings, and issuing alerts for local events,
while regional centers provide efficiency of operations,
access to a larger suite of observations, and sharing of
services. Regional centers also provide serve as a focal
point for mitigation activities, communications between
stakeholders, products (e.g., tsunami travel and height
maps),services (e.g., testing of communications systems,
expertise exchange, quality control),and can provide backup
functions for national centers. Regional commitment and
support and support from , national support, and
international support levels can guarantee long-term
sustainability of regional centers.


19. Kong described how the ITIC monitors the international
tsunami warning system for the Pacific to improve

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operations, assists member states with technology transfer,
and provides technical assistance and training to improve
national and community-level preparedness. Kong also noted
the importance of hazard reduction strategies, including
preparation of inundation maps, evacuation maps, simulations
and drills, to facilitate an effective response to tsunami
warning. ITIC training programs and outreach materials were
offered to help prepare both national emergency management
agencies and local communities to respond appropriately to
tsunami warnings.

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20. Conclusions of the working group on the organizational
aspects of an IOTWS were captured in the Communique.

AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS
--------------


21. The panel addressed on Tsunami awareness and
preparedness reviewed national preparedness plans (New
Zealand and Indonesia),community-based early warning
systems (ISDR, Red Cross),awareness building and public
information (Asian Disaster Reduction Centre),and
institutional capacities for moving forward (UNDP).


22. The corresponding working group reviewed (1) risk and
vulnerability assessment; (2) public awareness and
education; and (3) preparedness and emergency response. To
address risk reduction, the group called for preparation of
hazard risk, inundation and evacuation maps that identify
escape routes, safe areas and shelters. The group
acknowledged other methods of reducing risks - beyond the
scope of ITSU - including land-use planning, structural
interventions (building codes, coastal structures, elevated
shelters),and non-structural interventions (protection,
rehabilitation, and conservation of coastal ecosystems,
including mangroves and coral reefs that help buffer coastal
communities).


23. Awareness, education, and public outreach as were noted
as essential ingredients in tsunami early warning systems,
recognizing that innovation and local knowledge to can be
used to build a culture of safety. The group also called
for special attention to building national and local
preparedness and emergency response capacities, with clear
and careful delineation of functions and responsibilities.

BEYOND THE INDIAN OCEAN
--------------


24. The final session on "The Indian Ocean System within a
Global Framework" provoked substantial debate as to how
other region's tsunami warning systems (e.g., Mediterranean
and Northeast Atlantic, Caribbean and Central West Atlantic,
and Southwest Pacific) would be reflected in the Communique.
India and other IO members provided text that limited
examples to areas adjacent to the Indian Ocean, such as
South-East Asia and the South China Sea.

Participating Organizations
--------------


25. Several organizations were invited to make
announcements during the proceedings:

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADCP) - Described
experience in regional disaster projects and described a
regional TWS that includes earthquake and tsunami
monitoring.

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) -
Offered to share data archival technology.
Global Earth Observational System of Systems (GEOSS) -Guy
Duchossois described program and presented Tsunami
Communique.

GLOSS (IOC global sea level program) - Described current
contribution in IO and recommended expansion of real time
reporting stations.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) - Described how
warnings might be disseminated via ships.

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology - David
Simpson described the standardized, real-time global seismic
network, how it detected the Dec 26 earthquake, and how it
could contribute to a global TWS.

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) - Described
their role in communications for all aspects of TWS.

UN/ESCAP- - Described capabilities as they relate to a
regional of global TWS.

WMO - Described operational role in world weather
forecasting and recommended that the TWS use their Global
Telecommunications Networks to deliver tsunami warning
information to ION nations.

OLIVER