Tsunami: Magnitude of Terror

1. Tsunami:Magnitude of Terror Future Measures

2. Contents Tsunami Warning System Government Policies Suggested Precautions

3. Future Measures Tsunami Warning System

4. Tsunami Warning System DefinitionA tsunami warning system is a system to detect tsunamis and issue warnings to prevent loss of life. It consists of two equally important components: a network of sensors to detect tsunamis and a communications infrastructure to issue timely alarms to permit evacuation of coastal areas. Importance of Tsunami Warning System A tsunami warning system such as that in the Pacific Ocean can help save lives. When the earthquake struck off Sumatra, a monitoring system could have predicted the possibility of an ongoing tsunami caused by the quake by measuring underwater sea currents. Such a system can then inform the relevant governments in the area around the Indian Ocean, and they can then warn their people to evacuate costal.

5. Tsunami Warning System Global Earth Observation System of Systems The GEOSS was proposed by the G-8 in 2003 with the US initiating the process in an effort to build a global observation system. Currently, the GEOSS consists of 54 participating contries. ON 14th January 2005, the United States (USA) National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA), announced that it will expand the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which is an effort by the international community to develop an integrated Earth Observation System. NOAA plans to deploy 32 high-tech Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART) buoys by middle of 2007. The expansion of the system will provide the US with the ability to predict tsunami arrival times and activate response within minutes along the US coasts. Hopefully, the system can help in reducing potential dangers and loss of lives in future. 

6. Proposed System in the Indian Ocean Headed by the United Nations, a tsunami warning system will by set up by the middle of 2006, as agreed upon during the governmental World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan, on 20 January 2005. The 30 million dollars system is expected to take 12 to 18 months to implement and costs even more to maintain. Most of the money is expected to come from donor countries as it is a joint effort by the international community. In actual fact, seismologists knew almost immediately about the earthquake off Indonesia which triggered the tsunami. However, there was no way of relaying the information to people in the region. Hence, a warning system will allow a more coordinated response to an earthquake (such as contact information) and this includes prediction of tsunami arrival times.

7. Future Measures Government Policies

8. ASEAN On January 6th 2005, an emergency ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nationa) tsunami summit was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. During the summit, there was a declaration by ASEAN members to unite together to strengthen relief efforts. As rescue efforts and relief coordination are especially crucial in the aftermath of the crisis. During the meeting, certain procedures were discussed to mitigate and reduce the extent of damage should such an incident occur again. They decided that the aid of the military and civilians could be enlisted as they would be invaluable. The military is disciplined and well-trained, whereas the local civilians could offer assistance and aid very quickly, given their proximity to the disaster.

9. ASEAN Some of the proposals raised during the summit include the establishment of a Regional Tsunami Early Warning Center on the Indian Ocean and the Southeast Asia regional and raising the level of education and public awareness on tsunami in Asia, starting from schools, so that the public would remain calm during future incidents and lesser damage would be dealt as a whole. They also agreed on the sharing and transfer of technology and information in building and managing a tsunami warning system and damage control. An ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Centre was also proposed and is part of the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action. In addition, an ASEAN Disaster Information Sharing and Communication Network was also suggested to facilitate the transmission of information more quickly during times of emergency, which could save many lives.

10. ASEAN On January 6th 2005, an emergency ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nationa) tsunami summit was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. During the summit, there was a declaration by ASEAN members to unite together to strengthen relief efforts. As rescue efforts and relief coordination are especially crucial in the aftermath of the crisis. The utilization of military and civilian personnel in disaster relief operation and an ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Centre, as provided for in the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action.

11. ASEAN ASEAN Disaster Information Sharing and Communication Network, as provided for in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community component of the Vientiane Action Programme. A regional instrument on disaster management and emergency response. During the meeting, certain procedures were discussed to mitigate and reduce the extent of damage should such an incident occur again. They decided that the aid of the military and civilians could be enlisted as they would be invaluable. The military is disciplined and well-trained, whereas the local civilians could offer assistance and aid very quickly, given their proximity to the disaster. An ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Centre was also proposed and is part of the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action. In addition, an ASEAN Disaster Information Sharing and Communication Network was also suggested to facilitate the transmission of information more quickly during times of emergency, which could save many lives.

12. European Union The European Union(EU) Commission has already agreed on donating 2 million to finance the first phase of the proposed Tsunami early warning system, which will service the Indian Ocean and improve the safety of the people living there. In addition, the EU Commission has also provided $350,000 in preparation for the UN Conference mentioned above. It also expressed its eagerness in providing assistance in international efforts to develop tsunami warning systems. Its Commission services is also thinking of aiding in the setting up of an Indian Ocean Geo-physical hazards competence centre, which would co-ordinate the implementation of a tsunami early warning system in the area and deal with the transferring and sharing of technologies.

13. United Nations The UN Conference on disaster reduction in Kobe (18 - 22 January 2005) set aside 2 sessions that touched on the Tsunami aftermath and came up with a blueprint for a Tsunami early warning system and discussed how the many nations involved in its building and operation should co-ordinate and cooperate effectively to reduce time and cost. The system is to be built for the Indian Ocean, which experiences earthquakes, though very much less frequently than other regions such as the Pacific. It called for assistance and aid from the more fortunate countries to help prevent such incidents and build a better tomorrow.

14. European Union In addition, the European Union's Joint Research Centre or JRC is also trying to increase the capability of its earthquake detection system (Global Disaster Alert System) and expand it to cover tsunamis too. A tsunami crisis information service with maps and satellite images has also been proposed to support and provide first hand information to organisations and groups so that better aid can be proffered during times of emergency. The JRC has also looked into the relevance and need for the EU to be developing more efficient procedures to utilize space technologies and expertise for crisis management and early warning systems.

15. References

16. References "U.S. ANNOUNCES PLAN FOR AN IMPROVED TSUNAMI DETECTION AND WARNING SYSTEM" . NOAA . [Online] . Avaliable: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2369.htm [8 February 2005] "The Tsunami Warning System" . "Earth and Space Sciences at University of Washington" . [Online] . Available: http://www.geophys.washington.edu/tsunami/general/warning/warning.html [8 February 2005] "Tsunami Warning System" . "Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia" . [Online] . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami_warning_system [8 February 2005] "New Scientist Breaking News - Indian Ocean tsunami warning system by mid-2006" . [Online] . http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6905 [20 February 2005] "Tsunami early warning ‘next year’" . "BBC News" . [Online] . http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4168917.stm [20 February 2005] "Chinese Premier to attend ASEAN tsunami summit". [Online] . Available: http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=53876 [13 February 2005] "Tsunami: ASEAN news watch" . "ASEAN" . [Online] . Available: http://tsunami.aseansec.org/index.php?OP=NEWS&NEWS=110532623 [13 February 2005] "Indian Ocean Tsunami - The EU Response: Fisheries" . [Online]. Available: http://europa.eu.int/comm/world/tsunami/early_warning.htm