Technology to Predict Tsunami

The Government has developed an advanced Expert Decision Support System (DSS) based on state-of-the-art Information Technology (IT), Visualization, geo-spatial and remote sensing technologies to build Indian Tsunami Early Warning System.

The Indian Tsunami Early Warning System comprises a real-time network of seismic stations, Bottom Pressure Recorders (BPR), tide gauges and 24 X 7 operational tsunami warning centre to detect tsunamigenic earthquakes and to monitor tsunamis and to provide timely advisories to concerned government departments and to vulnerable community by means of latest communication methods with back-end support of scenario database, vulnerability modelling and Decision Support System.

Following are the Major Components of the Indian Tsunami Warning System:

i) Dedicated Tsunami Warning Centre operating on 24x7 basis for generation of timely advisories.
ii) A network of land-based seismic stations for earthquake detection and estimation of focal parameters in the two known tsunamigenic zones and to communicate the same to the Early Warning Centre in near-real time.
iii) A network of BPRs (that could detect and measure a change in water level of 1 cm at water depths of up to 6 km of water) to detect and monitor tsunami around these two tsunamigenic zones.
iv) Real-time observational network for upper ocean parameters and surface met-ocean parameters.
v) A network of real time tide gauges, radar-based coastal monitoring stations and current meter moorings to monitor progress of tsunami and storm surges.
vi) Generation of high resolution data base on bathymetry, coastal topography, coastal land use (for costal areas within 1-3 km in general and for 10-25 km at selected areas near coastal water bodies). vii) Coastal vulnerability modelling & Inundation mapping.
viii) Capacity building, training and education of all stake holders on utilisation of the maps, warning and watch advisories.
This information was given by the Shri Prithviraj Chavan ,Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in a written reply to a question by Shri K N Balagopal in Rajya Sabha today.