Global Tsunami Warning System: What It is and Its Components
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Numerous countries worldwide are vulnerable to tsunamis. They are not only in danger of local tsunamis but also transoceanic ones. The latter can travel over a thousand kilometers and hit countries on the other side of the world. Consequently, those countries are collaborating in the Global Tsunami Warning System.
This system will send tsunami warning alerts to governments of countries that are susceptible to being hit by the deathly wave. Therefore, countries affected by this catastrophe will have enough time to warn their people. How does this system work?
Understanding the Global Tsunami Warning System
For about six decades, IOC-UNESCO has successfully conducted its role in coordinating the global tsunami alert system. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission has several objectives including supporting the development of effective tsunami warning systems.
Therefore, it is not surprising if the coordinator of the global tsunami alert system is IOC-UNESCO. At its establishment, this organization has 40 founding members, such as India, the USA, Japan, and Chile.
However, in 2014, around 140 countries joined this organization. Moreover, after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, IOC-UNESCO has a stronger commitment to enhance the global tsunami alert system.
IOC-UNESCO Tsunami Program
As the coordinator of the international tsunami warning system, ICO-UNESCO has a program to support its members. This organization provides assistance in tsunami risk measurement, implementation of a TEWS, and community preparedness for tsunami hazards.
Therefore, member countries will be able to understand their tsunami vulnerability more accurately. Moreover, they can alleviate this disaster more effectively and efficiently.
Components of the Global Tsunami Alert System
The global tsunami alert system has several key components. The first is Tsunami Service Providers (TSP). They are centers for observing sea level and seismic activities. From this observation, these centers can detect threats coming from this catastrophe.
TSPs are working with regional and national tsunami warning systems to monitor tsunami signs and broadcast alerts. After recognizing the threat, TSPs will issue a global tsunami warning and send it to affected member countries.
Consequently, they can alleviate this threat and advise their people to go to higher grounds. The second is Tsunami Information Centers. They are centers for supporting member countries in preparing for tsunami hazards.
TICs deliver education, technical support, and capacity-building support for member countries. Consequently, members can have tsunami-resilient communities and infrastructures. They are also capable of preventing this hazard from causing massive damage.
Regional Warning Systems: Members of the Global Tsunami Alert System
The Global Tsunami Warning System consists of several regional tsunami warning systems. Below are three examples of regional warning systems under the IOC-UNESCO
Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWS)
PTWS is the oldest regional tsunami warning system. This system has been providing tsunami alert services since 1965 with areas of responsibility of the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Bering Sea, Mindanao Sea, and other bordering seas of the Pacific.
Moreover, it has 600 seismic stations and 500 coastal and deep-ocean sea-level stations. PTWS places these stations at potential locations where tsunamigenic earthquakes may occur. In addition, more than 40 member countries collaborate in managing this system.
Some member countries of PTWS do not have their own national tsunami warning system. They depend on this system to get tsunami information and alerts. After that, they broadcast the warning messages to the people.
North Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea Tsunami Warning System (NEAMTWS)
Destructive tsunamis rarely occur in the North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and their neighboring seas. However, there is a potential that this deathly wave will sweep these seas in the next 30 to 50 years.
Therefore, IOC-UNESCO and countries in those regions launched NEAMTWS in 2005. However, not all those countries contribute to earthquake and tsunami monitoring and tsunami alert dissemination.
Some of them rely on the NEAMTWS to get tsunami information before disseminating it to their people. Meanwhile, countries with tsunami warning centers under this organization are Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, and Portugal.
Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS)
In 2005, several countries on the rim of the Indian Ocean founded the IOTWS in response to the devastating 2004 tsunami. It is smaller than the PTWS, with only 31 buoys and seismic stations in the system.
Moreover, its areas of responsibility only cover 28 countries located in the ring of the Indian Ocean. However, IOTWS is an outstanding system. It combines community-based strategies, advanced technology, and regional cooperation. Currently, three countries are organizing IOTWS.
They are Indonesia, India, and Australia. Therefore, the Indonesia Tsunami Warning System, Indian Tsunami Early Warning System, and Joint Australian Warning Tsunami Center collaborate to provide other members with tsunami information.
The Global Tsunami Warning System provides tsunami alerts to its member countries. After getting an alert, they can broadcast it to their people. In disseminating the warning, governments must use wireless cell broadcasters from smsbroadcaster.com. Those tools are resilient, effective, and efficient for disseminating alerts.