Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
8.3.3 Programmatic activities and operation
The ICGs and their subsidiary bodies promote and coordinate activities aimed at three main
areas of work: (1) architecture of the monitoring networks and the tsunami warning system
and related standard operating procedures; (2) assessment and development of capacities in
preparedness for tsunamis, including thorough carrying out of communication tests, exer-
cises, and drills; and (3) public awareness and education, and promotion of research.
Exchange of real-time seismic data occurs through existing international and regional
networks(besidesIMS,e.g.GlobalSeismographicNetwork(GSN),MediterraneanNetwork
(MedNet), GEOFON Global Seismic Network). In addition, an agreement signed in 2009
between UNESCO and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-
Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) enables tsunami warning centres that are recognized by
UNESCO to obtain from CTBTO data from the International Monitoring System (IMS),
composed of 337 seismic station facilities, for the purpose of producing tsunami warnings
Exchange of real-time sea-level data is facilitated by IOC's Sea Level Station Monit-
oring Facility, established in cooperation between two IOC core programmes, the Global
Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) and the International Oceanographic Data Exchange
Programme (IODE), with support from the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend.
Transmission of data from seismic and sea-level stations and of warning occurs via WMO
Global Telecommunications System (GTS) or the Internet. It should be added that techno-
logy in ocean observations had improved vastly since the creation of the PTWS in 1965
and the 2004 tsunami event encouraged countries to take advantage of this opportunity, and
this also impacted in some sense the governance arrangements. For example, demonstration
gauges have become more affordable, data transmission opportunities have improved, and
general communication has improved via email and the Internet. One particular develop-
ment concerns 'tsunameters', ocean observing platforms with sea floor pressure sensors to
detect tsunami waves that transmit data to a surface moored buoy which in turn transmits
the collected observations in real time via satellite. Networks of tsunameters are particu-
