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Fig. 31: Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre at INCOIS
tsunami hazard and inundation maps, the evacuation route maps, disaster risk reduction plan analysis, preparation of public display of tsunami information, outreach material and activities
Keeping in view the high population density along the coastal stretch of India, a Storm Surge Early Warning System was established for the Indian coast. The ADCIRC (Advanced Circulation) model has been adopted which is a finite-element based, depth-integrated shallow water model that can be used to model storm surges and for other coastal applications. The warning system utilizes the automated Decision Support System (DSS) based on Geographic Information System (GIS) and database technology to provide real-time storm surge and inundation forecasts during cyclones.
Use of Geospatial Technologies
The Tsunami and storm surge Early Warning system software and applications were built entirely using GIS techniques that enable operations such as
1. Display of geographic locations of seismic sensors, tide gauges, and bottom pressure sensors, 2. Retrieving real-time data, 3. Launch of numerical models, 4. Sea level monitoring systems with live plotting, 5. GIS-based decision support tools to analyse the tsunami/ storm surge model outputs, 6. Warning generation and dissemination over multi-channel methods, and 7. System monitoring, administration, backup, and data retrieval policies.
The GIS applications used in the warning centre are robust and effective tools to disseminate advisories to the Nation and Indian Ocean rim countries. Geospatial Technologies are extensively used to support the Tsunami Ready programme for generating evacuation route maps.
Key Outputs
y One of the world’s best Tsunami Early Warning Systems; designated as one of the Tsunami Service
Providers (TSP) for the entire Indian Ocean Region by the International Coordination Group for the Indian
Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO on 12 October 2011
Æ Equipped with the necessary infrastructure and capabilities to issue tsunami advisories to India as well as to Indian Ocean countries.
Æ Continuous improvements and adoption of new technologies since its establishment in 2007 providing tsunami advisories and related services to 25 countries in the Indian Ocean Region.
Æ ITEWC along with other National Institutes has established a sea level network comprising of 7 tsunami buoys (5 in the Bay of Bengal & 2 in the North Arabian Sea) and 36 Tide gauge stations
Æ Since its inception (October 2007), ITEWC has monitored 101 tsunamigenic events (earthquake magnitude ≥ 6.5) in the Indian Ocean region. Out of them, 7 large events occurred and only on one occasion, ITEWC issued a tsunami warning, that too only for three Nicobar Islands.
