TSUNAMI FEARS FOCUS OF FORUM

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000291

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, OES/SAT, IO/T
COMMERCE FOR NOAA/NWS
ENERGY FOR LLNL/NAKANISHI
INTERIOR FOR USGS/MFOOSE
AMMAN FOR EST HUB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC TPHY KSCA SENV MU ESTH
SUBJECT: TSUNAMI FEARS FOCUS OF FORUM

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SUMMARY
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1. USG scientists raised seismic awareness and delivered the
keynote address on establishing a tsunami warning system for
the Indian Ocean basin during the third annual Gulf Seismic
Forum in Muscat. The real threat of tsunami-generating
seismic activity between the Omani and Pakistani coasts was
the central issue of concern. End Summary.

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RAISING SEISMIC AWARENESS
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2. At the third annual Gulf Seismic Forum, hosted in Muscat
by Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) from February 19-23,
seismologists from the region and the U.S. reviewed the
threat of an Indian Ocean tsunami, and steps needed to
diminish its impact. The seismologists highlighted real
concerns over the potential impact of earthquakes off
Pakistan's Makran coast and southern Iran on Oman and the
neighboring emirates of Sharjah and Dubai. (Note: A 1945
quake in this region generated a tsunami that killed 4000
persons. End note.) Forum participants discussed the
possibility of establishing a GCC disaster center to handle
such emergencies.

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TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM ON TAP

SIPDIS
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3. U.S. NOAA scientist Laura Kong, Director of the
UNESCO-sponsored, Hawaii-based International Tsunami
Information Center, updated attendees on the development of
an Indian Ocean tsunami warning system, expected to be
operational by mid-2006. Kong remarked that awareness is
crucial to the system's success, citing a recent survey
revealing that nations closer to the 2004 Sumatra epicenter
had far greater tsunami awareness than those in the Middle
East and Africa.

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U.S. EFFORT BEARS FRUIT
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4. Based on a relationship established in earnest in 2003,
SQU officials worked closely with Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory scientists in preparing for this productive forum.
Organizers were pleased with greater regional interest in
seismology, evidenced by new participants from the Saudi
Arabia Geological Survey, Dubai Municipality, and Egypt.
BALTIMORE