Technical Support to the IOC

NOAA, USGS, and USAID have extensively participated in and supported the IOC, ICG/IOTWS, and UN partners during the Program.

US IOTWS Contribution

NOAA, with assistance from USGS and USAID, provided the overall conceptual design for the IOTWS, and many of the tools developed under the Program have been introduced and endorsed by ICG Working Groups. USG experts also participated in IOC-sponsored national assessments in four Indian Ocean countries to determine their tsunami warning capacities in 2005, and USAID’s Program Integrator prepared the IOC’s final report on all 16 national assessments. The USG has assisted with establishing protocols and standards for regional warning system interoperability. These protocols are primarily generated in the ICG working groups, in which the US IOTWS Program team members participate.

In coordination with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), NOAA has outlined the detailed architecture for regional and national tsunami warning systems (Concept of Operations, or CONOPS) and conducted regional- and national-level trainings.

Since 2004 the USG has supported continuous 24/7 tsunami notification support to the Indian Ocean from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), operated by NOAA in Hawaii. This has enabled the Indian Ocean countries to receive notifications and warnings while the IOTWS is under development. As of February 2008, notifications had been issued for two tsunamis and 17 non-tsunami events. In addition, regional experts received hands on training at PTWC on tsunami warning operations.

Next Steps

PTWC will continue to provide interim notifications until permanent regional warning capabilities are established in the region.

For Further Information

NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/

PTWC Tsunami Messages for the Indian Ocean http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/?region=3