Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.2

Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.2

Establishment Of ICG/PTWS Inter-Sessional Working Groups

The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System,

Noting the devastating impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004 that highlighted the benefits of effective and durable tsunami warning systems,

Recognizing the desirability of continuously reviewing the effective and durable operation of the PTWS,

Decides to continue the five inter-sessional working groups established by ICG/ITSU-XX (Recommendation ICG/ITSU-XX.1) with terms of reference as defined in Annex 1 to this Recommendation:

1. Working Group One on Seismic Measurements, Data Collection and Exchange;
   
   
2. Working Group Two on Sea-level Measurements, Data Collection and Exchange;
   
   
3. Working Group Three on Tsunami Hazard Identification and Characterization, including Modelling, Prediction and Scenario Development;
   
   
4. Working Group Four on Resilience Building and Emergency Management;
   
   
5. Working Group Five on Interoperability of Regional, Sub-regional and National Tsunami Warning Systems in the Pacific;

Decides further that membership of the working groups shall be open to all IOC Member States and invited organizations, and shall be convened by Chairs nominated by the ICG/PTWS;

Instructs the inter-sessional working groups to liaise, as appropriate, with similar inter-sessional working groups established by the ICG/IOTWS and other regional tsunami warning and mitigation systems, and invite Chairs of equivalent working groups in other regions to meet to ensure maximum interoperability;

Instructs the inter-sessional working groups to develop and continue to update medium term plans, a period of 5-10 years, to be reported to the Medium Term Strategy Working Group on an annual basis and to report and provide recommendations for further action to the next Session of the ICG/PTWS.