# Presentation: 707030

## Interim Provision of Tsunami Watch Information for the Indian Ocean Countries

- Pacific Tsunami Warning Center Japan Meteorological Agency

**Notes:**
    During the UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) held in Kobe just after the Indian Ocean Tsunami disaster, from 18 through 22 January 2005, a regional/thematic special session entitled “Promotion of tsunami disaster mitigation in the Indian Ocean” sought the way to establish the international tsunami early warning system in the Indian Ocean region through international coordination from the professional point of view.  As an interim measure until the tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean region becomes fully operational, JMA started, in cooperation with PTWC, to provide Tsunami Watch Information (TWI) for the Indian Ocean countries by utilizing existing telecommunication tools and currently available seismic and sea-level data and by employing the experiences accumulated in the Pacific.

## Interim Provision of 

***       *****Motivation for Interim Provision**
**of Tsunami Watch Information**

***Interim Provision of ***
***Tsunami Watch Information***

***Need an Emergency Measure***

***No Tsunami Warning***
***if a big tsunami were generated again***

- 26 Dec 2004 SUMATRA-ANDAMAN ISLANDS EARTHQUAKE

**Notes:**
    One of the cause of the tremendous damage brought by the Sumatra earthquake in Dec. 2004 was that there was no tsunami warning or information system in the Indian Ocean region. The effort for the establishment of tsunami early warning system in this region is underway, but in case of a big earthquake occurrence before the system becomes fully operational, emergency measure should be taken. Therefore, Interim provision of the TWI was proposed.

## Tsunami Watch Information should be Regarded as a Reference for Taking Preventive Measure against Possible Tsunamis on the Responsibility and Initiative of the Individual Countries

**Sea level data**

**Sea level data**

**Japan Meteorological**
**Agency**

- Collection via Internet

**Enhancement of existing function**

**Country**

**Dissemination of Tsunami Watch Information**

**Pacific**
**Tsunami**
**Warning**
**Center**

- Collection via Internet
- or
- Meteorological Satellites

**Seismic waveform data**

**Seismic waveform data**

**Country**

**Country**

**Through  the Global Telecommunication System of WMO, E-mail and/or Facsimile**

**(Currently available)**

**(Enhancement of communication facility of  existing tide gauges)**

**National arrangements**

**Estimation of  tsunami travel time**

**Indian Ocean region**

**Tsunami Watch Information should be Regarded as a Reference for Taking Preventive Measure against Possible Tsunamis on the Responsibility and Initiative of the Individual Countries**

***on the responsibility and initiative ***
***of the individual countries!***

**residents**

**residents**

**residents**

**Notes:**
    JMA, in cooperation with PTWC, provides TWI using exiting seismic network, sea-level stations and communication system, for example GTS, e-mail, and facsimile.
    Recipient countries will issue tsunami warning on their own responsibility.

## P-WAVE TRAVEL TIMES                   FOR 12/26/04 EARTHQUAKE

##   Sea Level Stations in the Indian Ocean 

**As of April 14 2006**

**Notes:**
This slide shows tidal stations that JMA can monitor as of now. Data from most of the tidal stations are transmitted via DCPs of geostationary meteorological satellites.

## Slide 6

## Seismic criteria for PTWC/JMA 

**Seismic criteria for PTWC/JMA **
**IO Advisories**

| Depth | Location | (Mw) | Tsunami Potential | Bulletin Type |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| < 100 km | Under or very near the sea | 6.5 to 7.0 | Very small potential for a destructive local tsunami | Information Bulletin |
|  |  | 7.1 to 7.5 | Potential for a  destructive local tsunami | Local
Tsunami Watch |
|  |  | 7.6 to 7.8 | Potential for a  destructive regional tsunami | Regional Tsunami Watch |
|  |  | ≥ 7.9 | Potential for a 
destructive ocean-wide tsunami | Ocean-wide Tsunami Watch |
|  | Inland |  6.5 | No tsunami potential | Information Bulletin |
| ≥ 100 km | All Locations | ≥ 6.5 | No tsunami potential | Information Bulletin |

## PTWC Preliminary Forecast Points

## Sample Tsunami Information Bulletin

**TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001**
**PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS**
**ISSUED AT 0117Z 11 APR 2005**
**THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN.**
**... TSUNAMI INFORMATION BULLETIN ...**
**THIS MESSAGE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.**
**AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS**
** ****ORIGIN TIME -  0100Z 11 APR 2005**
** ****COORDINATES -   1.3 NORTH   97.5 EAST **
** ****LOCATION    -  NORTHERN SUMATERA  INDONESIA**
** ****MAGNITUDE   -  6.7**

## Sample                                         Tsunami Information Bulletin (cont’d)

**EVALUATION**
** ****A DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT DOES NOT EXIST BASED ON     **
** ****HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA.                             **
**                                                                     **
** ****HOWEVER - THERE IS A VERY SMALL POSSIBILITY OF A LOCAL TSUNAMI      **
** ****THAT COULD AFFECT COASTS LOCATED USUALLY NO MORE THAN A HUNDRED     **
** ****KILOMETERS FROM THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. AUTHORITIES IN THE        **
** ****REGION NEAR THE EPICENTER SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS              **
** ****POSSIBILITY. **
**                                                       **
**THIS WILL BE THE ONLY BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI**
**WARNING CENTER FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**
**BECOMES AVAILABLE.**
**THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**
**FOR THIS EVENT.**

## Sample Local                                Tsunami Watch Supplement

**TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 002**
**PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS**
**ISSUED AT 0354Z 11 APR 2005**
**  **
**THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN.**
**... A LOCAL TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT ...**
** **** **
**A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR**
** **
** ****INDONESIA **
**  **
**FOR OTHER AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION, THIS MESSAGE IS AN**
**ADVISORY ONLY.**
**  **
**AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS**
** ****ORIGIN TIME -  0100Z 11 APR 2005**
** ****COORDINATES -   1.3 NORTH   97.5 EAST **
** ****LOCATION    -  NORTHERN SUMATERA  INDONESIA**
** ****MAGNITUDE   -  7.2**

## Sample Local Tsunami Watch Supplement (con’d)

**MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY**
** ****GAUGE LOCATION        LAT   LON    TIME    AMPL    PER**
** ****-------------------  ----- ------  -----  ------  -----**
** ****MALE                  4.2N  73.5E  0448Z   0.19M  14MIN**
** ****COLOMBO               6.9N  79.8E  0345Z   0.15M  22MIN**
** **
** ****TIME - TIME OF THE MEASUREMENT**
** ****AMPL - AMPLITUDE IN METERS FROM MIDDLE TO CREST OR MIDDLE**
**        ****TO TROUGH OR HALF OF THE CREST TO TROUGH**
** ****PER  - PERIOD OF TIME FROM ONE WAVE CREST TO THE NEXT**
**EVALUATION**
** ****SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. IT MAY HAVE    **
** ****BEEN DESTRUCTIVE ALONG COASTS NEAR THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. FOR    **
** ****THOSE AREAS - WHEN DAMAGING WAVES HAVE NOT OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST    **
** ****TWO HOURS THEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN ASSUME THE THREAT IS PASSED.   **
** ****DANGER TO BOATS AND COASTAL STRUCTURES CAN CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL     **
** ****HOURS DUE TO RAPID CURRENTS.  AS LOCAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A       **
** ****WIDE VARIATION IN TSUNAMI WAVE ACTION THE ALL CLEAR DETERMINATION   **
** ****MUST BE MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.                                  **
**                                                                     **
** ****NO TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS FOR OTHER COASTAL AREAS IN THE INDIAN      **
** ****OCEAN ALTHOUGH SOME OTHER AREAS MAY EXPERIENCE SMALL SEA LEVEL      **
** ****CHANGES.                   **
**                                         **
** ****DUE TO ONLY LIMITED SEA LEVEL DATA FROM THE REGION IT IS NOT**
** ****POSSIBLE FOR THIS CENTER TO RAPIDLY NOR ACCURATELY EVALUATE THE**
** ****THE STRENGTH OF A TSUNAMI IF ONE HAS BEEN GENERATED.**

## Sample Local                                                    Tsunami Watch Supplement (cont’d)

**ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES. ACTUAL ARRIVAL TIMES**
**MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST. THE TIME**
**BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE TSUNAMI WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.**
** ****LOCATION                            COORDINATES     ARRIVAL TIME**
** ****--------------------------------    ------------    ------------**
** ****INDONESIA        SIMEULUE            2.5N  96.0E    0134Z 11 APR**
**                  ****SIBERUT             1.5S  98.7E    0144Z 11 APR**
**                  ****PADANG              0.9S 100.1E    0214Z 11 APR**
**                  ****BANDA ACEH          5.5N  95.1E    0223Z 11 APR**
**                  ****BENGKULU            3.9S 102.0E    0238Z 11 APR**
**                  ****BANDAR LAMPUNG      6.0S 105.5E    0338Z 11 APR**
**                  ****CILACAP             7.8S 108.9E    0351Z 11 APR**
**                  ****BALI                9.0S 115.5E    0433Z 11 APR**
**                  ****BELAWAN             3.8N  98.8E    0544Z 11 APR**
**                  ****KUPANG             10.0S 123.4E    0549Z 11 APR**
**THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI**
**WARNING CENTER FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**
**BECOMES AVAILABLE.**
**THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**
**FOR THIS EVENT.**

## PTWC Preliminary

- Forecast Points

## COMMUNICATIONS METHODS FOR THE INDIAN OCEAN

**KEEP IT SIMPLER THAN IN THE PACIFIC**
**GTS AS THE BACKBONE SYSTEM**
**TELEFAX AND EMAIL AS ALTERNATE METHODS**
**CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT?**
**PERSON-TO-PERSON TELEPHONE CONTACT SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED, BUT MAY BE USED**

## WMO (GTS) PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS FOR PTWC PRODUCTS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN

| Bulletin Type | WMO Identifier | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tsunami Information
 | WEIO23 PHEB | Advise Government Agencies |
| Tsunami Watch
 | WEIO21 PHEB | Advise Government Agencies |
| Tsunami Informaton | WEIO33 PHEB
(ready but not used) | Advise the Public and Media |
| Tsunami Watch | WEIO31 PHEB
(ready but not used) | Advise the Public and Media |
| Earthquake Information | SEIO61 PHEB
(ready but not used) | Exchange of initial earthquake params |

**WMO (GTS) PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS FOR PTWC PRODUCTS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN**

## Source Parameters
Origin time (UTC), Coordinates (latitude, longitude), Location name of the epicenter , Depth (if 100km or more), magnitude 
Evaluation of Tsunamigenic Potential
Estimated Tsunami Travel Time
Observations of tsunami

- Source Parameters
- Origin time (UTC), Coordinates (latitude, longitude), Location name of the epicenter , Depth (if 100km or more), magnitude
- Evaluation of Tsunamigenic Potential
- Estimated Tsunami Travel Time
- Observations of tsunami

**Contents of TWI (JMA)**

**Notes:**
Contents of TWI are earthquake information, evaluation of tsunamigenic potential by applying empirical relation accumulated in the Pacific, and estimated tsunami travel time to the coastal blocks shown in this figure. When tsunami is observed at a tidal station, observed results are included in the subsequent TWI.

TWI is provided to 26 countries and has been issued ten times as of now (including one for 28 Mar. 2005 event, which occurred before the official commencement of TWI provision). 

## Example of JMA Tsunami Watch Information 

- TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER NUMBER 001
-  ISSUED BY THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY (JMA)
-  ISSUED AT 1602 24 JUL 2005 (UTC)
- ... A LOCAL TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT ...
- 1.EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION
-  ORIGIN TIME : 1542 24 JUL 2005 (UTC)
-  COORDINATES : 8.7 NORTH 92.1 EAST
-  LOCATION    : NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA, REGION
-  MAGNITUDE   : 7.3
- 2.EVALUATION
-  THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DESTRUCTIVE LOCAL TSUNAMI
-  IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.
- 3.ESTIMATED TSUNAMI TRAVEL TIME
-  ONE HOUR OR LESS
-   INDIA:
-     ALL COASTS OF ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
-   INDONESIA:
-     INDIAN OCEAN COAST OF SUMATRA
-     MALACCA COAST OF SUMATRA
- *TSUNAMI TRAVEL TIME IS ESTIMATED ONLY FROM EARTHQUAKE DATA
-  AND INDICATES THE TIME LAPSE BETWEEN ORIGIN TIME AND TSUNAMI
-  ARRIVAL TIME.
- *THIS WILL BE THE FINAL INFORMATION UNLESS THERE ARE CHANGES
-  ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF TSUNAMI GENERATION AND ESTIMATED TSUNAMI
-  TRAVEL TIME BY RE-EVALUATION OF THE EARTHQUAKE OR THERE ARE
-  REPORTS ON TSUNAMI OBSERVATIONS.

**Earthquake Information**

**Potential of Tsunami**

**Estimated Tsunami Travel Time**

**Notes:**
This is an example of Tsunami Watch Information for the Indian Ocean, actually issued on July 14 2005.
TWI contains earthquake information, evaluation of tsunamigenic potential and estimated tsunami travel time at individual coast.

## Tsunami Watch Information Recipient Countries

**Notes:**
This figure shows 26 recipients countries.
TWI is sent to the designated responsible organizations of  26 Indian Ocean countries using the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) of WMO, e-mail, and/or facsimile. 

## Provision of NWPTA/JMA

| Origin Time (UTC) | Latitude | Longitude | Magnitude | Issuance Time (UTC) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02:46  16 August 2005 | 38.1N | 142.4E | 6.8 | 02:55  16 August 2005 |
| 07:27  9 September 2005 | 4.6S | 153.3E | 7.3 | 07:56  9 September 2005 |
| 15:51  15 October 2005 | 25.3N | 123.4E | 6.5 | 16:03  15 October 2005 |
| 21:38  14 November 2005 | 38.0N | 145.0E | 6.9 | 21:50  14 November 2005 |

- Provision of TWI/JMA for Indian Ocean

- *: This earthquake occurred before official commencement of providing Tsunami Watch Information. Therefore, JMA
- transmitted tsunami information to eleven countries around the Indian Ocean by facsimile in about 25 minutes after the earthquake.

| Origin Time (UTC) | Latitude | Longitude | Magnitude | Issuance Time (UTC) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 16:09  28 Mar 2005 | 2.1N | 97.1E | 8.7 | * |
| 10:29  10 April 2005 | 1.1S | 99.4E | 6.8 | 10:56  10 April 2005 |
| 16:38  16 April 2005 | 1.9N | 97.8E | 6.5 | 16:59  16 April 2005 |
| 14:07  28 April 2005 | 2.2N | 96.9E | 6.6 | 14:30  28 April 2005 |
| 05:05  14 May 2005 | 0.7N | 98.7E | 6.8 | 05:32  14 May 2005 |
| 01:54  19 May 2005 | 2.0N | 97.0E | 6.6 | 02:15  19 May 2005 |
| 01:52  5 July 2005 | 1.9N | 97.0E | 6.7 | 02:15  5 July 2005 |
| 14:10  19 November 2005 | 3.0N | 96.5E | 6.5 | 14:32  19 November 2005 |
| 22:19  22 February 2006 | 21.0S | 33.3E | 7.2 | 22:50  22 February 2006 |
| 15:28  16 May 2006 | 0.1N | 97.0E | 6.9 | 15:50  16 May 2006 |

- <date/time>