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.

Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.4

Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.4

Working Group on the Central America Pacific Coast for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Sytem

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

Recognizing that Central America has a significant threat from both local and distant tsunamis,

Noting that the six countries of Central America and the Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America (CEPREDENAC) during a meeting held in Managua, Nicaragua on 3 September 2003 decided to start the process for a Regional Tsunami Warning System, and to request IOC/ITSU assistance in developing it,

Remembering that this International Coordination Group in its session XIX decided to assist the Central American countries in this process and established a Working Group on this behalf composed of representatives from Nicaragua, Chile, France, Observer from El Salvador, the Directors of ITIC and PTWC and chaired by the representative from Nicaragua,

Recognizing that a strategy for the Regional Tsunami Warning System was adopted by the Central American countries in a meeting from April 25–27, in Managua, with the objective to create National Warning Systems in each of the countries, which shall cooperate closely and shall form finally a Regional Warning System,

Recognizing that Nicaragua and El Salvador already initiated to operate National Tsunami Warning Systems,

Acknowledging that there have made further improvements in Central America regarding the capabilities applicable to the requirements of a regional tsunami warning system as on line seismic data exchange and training of personnel,

Further acknowledging that there are mutual benefits to the Central America region and the Pacific region that would be realized through the establishment of this warning system,

Decides to continue with the work of the Intersessional Working Group on the Central America Tsunami Warning System with the following terms of reference:

1. To assist the Central American countries in the improvement, development or implementation of their National Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems;
   
   
2. To recommend to the Executive Secretary of CEPREDENAC the implementation of a Steering Committee for the Regional Tsunami Warning System and Mitigation Systems;
   
   
3. To facilitate Tsunami Hazard and Risk studies in the Central American Region;
   
   
4. 4To assist the countries which are not yet members of PTWS in their attempts to integrate IOC/PTWS;

 
Recommends that the Group will be composed of representatives from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Chile, France, the Directors of ITIC and PTWC and Chaired by the representative from Nicaragua;

Acknowledges that ICG/PTWS is the Coordinating Body for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific and encourages non-PTWS Member States to contact the IOC Secretariat to request membership of the ICG/PTWS.
___________________________
Financial implications: US$ 2,000

Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.5

Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.5

Working Group on Tsunami Warning And Mitigation in the Southwest Pacific Ocean

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

Recognizing that the Southwest Pacific Ocean has a significant threat from local, regional and distant tsunamis,

Further recognizing that local and regional tsunami alerts for some areas of the Southwest Pacific are not covered by the PTWC,

Further recognizing the strategic recommendations for addressing tsunami risks in the region agreed at the South Pacific Tsunami Awareness Workshop Forum Secretariat, Suva, Fiji, 1–3 July 2004,

Noting the interest of Member States in the Southwest Pacific region to enhance their tsunami warning and mitigation services,

Acknowledging that a number of countries in the region are developing National Tsunami Warning Systems with already existing and planned upgrades to seismic and sea-level networks and that the PTWC provides distant tsunami warnings for the Southwest Pacific,

Acknowledging also that there may be mutual benefits to these regions and to the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Pacific from the establishment of this working group,

Further acknowledging donor support, but encourages continued effort in donor harmonization,

Decides to establish an intersessional Working Group on the Southwest Pacific Ocean with the following Terms of Reference:

1. to evaluate capabilities of countries in these regions for providing end-to-end tsunami warning and mitigation services;
   
   
2. to ascertain requirements from countries in the Southwest Pacific Ocean for the tsunami warning and mitigation services;
   
   
3. to facilitate tsunami hazard and risk studies in the region;
   
   
4. to facilitate cooperation in the establishment and upgrading of seismic and sea level stations and networks in the region, and the interoperability of these systems;
   
   
5. to facilitate capacity building and the sharing of tsunami information in the region, including the free and open exchange of data;
   
   
6. to support the development of the centre of expertise in a multi-hazards context within SOPAC in line with the SOPAC strategies for enhancing early warning in the region;

Recommends that the Group be composed of representatives from members countries of SOPAC as members and observers and including, France, the Directors of ITIC and PTWC and chaired by the Representative of New Zealand, with vice-chairs from Fiji and Samoa;

Acknowledges that ICG/PTWS is the Coordination Body for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific and encourages non-PTWS Member States to contact the IOC Secretariat to request membership of the ICG/PTWS.

Annex to Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.2

Annex to Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.2

Terms of Reference for the ICG/PTWS Inter-Sessional Working Groups

Working Group One on Seismic Measurements. Data Collection and Exchange

Objectives:

• Review and report on existing arrangements with regard to seismic measurements, data collection and exchange.
  
  
• Advise on how best to ensure that all earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater can be reliably located and sized in a timely manner.
  
  
• Review and make recommendations regarding upgrades and enhancements to the PTWS network, communications, processing and analysis to further reduce the time required for earthquake source characterization to meet desired warning responses.

Chair: USA

 
Working Group Two on Sea-level Measurements. Data Collection and Exchange

Objectives:

• Review and report on existing arrangements with regard to sea-level data collection and exchange.
  
  
• Review and monitor status of Pacific Ocean sea level networks related to tsunami observation.
  
  
• Coordinate plans for sea level observing sensitivity tests to understand the optimal, effective PTWS sea-level network and associated technologies.
  
  
• Liaise with CBS/WMO/JCOMM and relevant Expert Teams to develop a more effective data representation and code form for the exchange of sea-level data (standards, metadata requirements).
  
  
• Review and report on various means of transmitting sea-level data to warning centers, and conduct tests of latency (timeliness) of GTS transmissions.
  
  
• Liaise with other sea level measurement, data collection and exchange working groups from the other ocean basins, as well as other working groups within ICG/PTWS to coordinate and ensure efficient and effective sea level observations for tsunami warning and mitigation.

Chair: Australia

Working Group Three on Tsunami Hazard Identification and Characterization

Objectives:

• Review and report on existing arrangements with regard to tsunami hazard identification and characterization.
• Advise on credible seismic scenarios that need to be captured for numerical tsunami modelling e.g., location, magnitude, rupture, orientation, dip, and probability of occurrence.
• Review details on models that are currently used or in development.
• Review desirable documentation (inputs, outputs etc.).
• Explore cooperation regarding coastal inundation models.
• Review as appropriate requirements for bathymetry.
• Develop guidance on mandatory metadata including detail of bathymetry, hydrography and topography.
• Consider the issue of assessing hazard, vulnerability and risk, including the facilitation of access to models.

Chair: France

Working Group Four on Resilience Building and Emergency Management

Objectives:

• Promote good practice examples of capacity and resilience building and emergency management to improve the management of tsunami risk through mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities. Such measures include the following:
  • risk reductjon: land use planning, building standards, engineering and non-structural counter-measures, and hazard and risk assessments.       
    
    
  • preparedness: capacity assessments, public education, training, response and evacuation planning and exercising.
    
    
  • response: effective forecasting and early warning systems coupled with sound communications systems.
    
    
  • recovery: infrastructure and socio-economic recovery plans supported by adequate financial and logistical resources.
    
    
  • public awareness.

Chair: Canada

Working Group Five on Interoperability of Regional. Sub-regional and National Tsunami Warning Systems in the Pacific

Objectives:

• Coordinate the development and operational implementation of warning systems in the Pacific through:
  • advice on the modalities of operation, methods and standards for the development and issuance of warnings, and requirements in terms of coordination and operating within a multi-hazard approach,
    
    
  • advice on arrangements for redundancy and back-up arrangements,
    
    
  • support the update of the PTWS Communications Plan.

Chair: USA

Working Group 1: Seismic Measurements, Data Collection and Exchange

Working Group 2: Sea-level Measurements, Data Collection and Exchange

Working Group 3: Tsunami Hazard Identification and Characterization

Working Group 4: Resilience Building and Emergency Management

Working Group 5: Interoperability of Regional, Sub-regional and National Tsunami