Fourteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS-XIV): Third Successful Tsunami Exercise

The Fourteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) was held from 21–23 November 2017, Lisbon, Portugal and hosted by the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA).

Participants reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the NEAMTWS. The Group discussed the preliminary evaluation of the NEAMWave17 tsunami exercise (31 October - 3 November 2017) that tested the system in both its up-stream and down-stream elements. Initial evaluation indicated that NEAMWave 17 had been very useful and yielded satisfactory performance. NEAMWave17 saw a significant increase in media interest in the exercise. A more extensive exercise report will be available in the 1^st quarter of 2018. Member States informed about several awareness raising efforts on tsunami hazards and preparedness that were contributions to World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November 2017).

 Inauguration of the Portuguese National Tsunami Warning Center, Source: Thorkild Aarup, IOC/UNESCO

Portugal informed that its National Tsunami Warning Center is now formally opened and hosted at the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA). The Center has informed IOC that it is ready to serve as a Candidate Tsunami Service (CTSP) Provider for the NEAM region. The Portuguese National Tsunami Warning Center was formally inaugurated on Saturday 25 November 2017 by HE Eduardo Cabrita (Minister for Minister of Internal Administration) and HE Ana Paula Vitorino (Minister of Sea).

The ICG discussed evaluation and lessons learned from recent tsunami events in the NEAM region (e.g. Aegean Sea (12 June and 21 July 2017)).

The ICG was also informed of KOERI’s intention to disseminate, on a trial basis for one year, enhanced products (travel time, Tsunami Forecast Point, alert levels, and distance based alert levels maps) to its subscribers stating 1 January 2018. The test will be carried out in cooperation with the Task Team on Operations and Working Group 4 on Public Awareness, Preparedness and Mitigation.

A significant part of the Session focused on exploring community preparedness and recognition programs, such as Tsunami Ready, and examining possible adaptation for the NEAM region.

Dr Ahmet Yalciner (left) and incoming chair of ICG/NEAMTWS Dr. Gerassimos Papadoupolos (right)
Source: Denis Chang Seng, IOC/UNESCO

Finally, new officers of ICG/NEAMTWS were elected – Dr. Gerassimos Papadoupolos (Greece) as chair. Dr Anna von Gyldenfeldt (Germany) and Dr Stefano Lorito (Italy) were re-elected as vice chairs. Professor Ahmet Yalciner was thanked and congratulated for his excellent leadership during his tenure as chair (2013-2017). A number of people were also elected for chair and co-chairs of the Working Groups and Task Teams (see NEAMTWS web-page).

The Fourteenth Session of ICG/NEAMTWS was attended by 53 participants from 12 member states and five observer organizations, including the UNISDR.