Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 08:45:44 -0700
From: Joann C Joselyn
The IUGG Electronic Journal
Special Issue
Volume 5 No. 1a (January 11, 2005)
Addition information on the IUGG Response to the December 26, 2004,
Indian Ocean Tsunami Disasters
Since the time of the last E-Journal special issue (Volume 4 Number 12a
(December 27, 2004), the IUGG Union Commission on Geophysical Risk and
Sustainability (GeoRisk), in cooperation with the IAPSO/IASPEI/IAVCEI
Tsunami Commission, has written a statement including a list of
recommendations for further analysis. The Statement (both short and
full versions) has been placed on the web-page of the GeoRisk Commission
www.mitp.ru/georisk .
Subsequently, the IUGG Bureau adopted a Resolution based on this
document. It has been sent to the UN Inter-Agency Secretariat of the
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) that is hosting the
World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe Japan from 18-22 January.
Tom Beer, IUGG Vice President and Past Chair of the GeoRisk Commission
will attend the Conference. The text of the Resolution is given below.
The regular 1 January 2005 issue of the IUGG E-Journal named a web site
containing information about the physical events underlying the disaster
assembled by Dr. V.K. Gusiakov: tsun.sscc.ru/tsulab/20041226.htm.
Another web site including wave animations and propagation times
modeled by K. Satake can be found at
www.ngdc.noaa.gov/spotlight/tsunami/tsunami.html . We understand
that various of the IUGG Associations and their components are working
on appropriate aspects of this problem in order that the risks can be
understood and policies established that will mitigate the consequences
of these natural geophysical events.
A RESOLUTION of the
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS
Adopted by the IUGG Bureau 10 January 2005
Whereas, A magnitude 9 great earthquake that occurred on 26 December
2004 off the west coast of northern Sumatra, South Asia, triggered
tsunamis that inundated the coastal zones around the Indian Ocean
resulting in tragic and historic loss of life and property;
The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG)
Recognizing, That tsunami warning systems in the Pacific Ocean have
proved to be effective over several decades; and
Noting, That existing technology such as Synthetic Aperture Radar
Interferometry (InSAR) observations for topography, real-time monitoring
of marine activity, satellite observations from space, and natural
hazard prediction models (e.g., tsunami propagation models) could
prevent loss of life if predictions were timely and warnings were
heeded; and
2. That the economic impact of natural disasters exceeds the cost of
mitigation; and
3. That in the aftermath of a natural disaster, existing technology
could provide rescue agencies and civil defense managers immediate
quantitative estimates of the extent and severity of the disaster; and
4. That the reduction of predictive uncertainty is the most important
scientific agenda in natural hazards reduction;
Recommends, That systems and procedures be prescribed for early warning,
public awareness, regional evacuation routes and shelters based on
charts of natural hazards, vulnerability, and risk assessments; and
2. That regional disaster management centers be established where they
do not now exist to catalog information on the population and
infrastructure at risk, and to monitor land, ocean and atmosphere in
relation to all kinds of natural hazards; and
3. That regional tsunami warning systems be set up in order to generate
and disseminate timely and accurate information needed by decision
makers and the public; and
4. That multidisciplinary and multinational research programs and
research networks on geophysical hazards and risks be developed to
integrate diverse data streams, to improve understanding of the natural
phenomena associated with the disasters, and to develop predictive
modeling capability; and
Resolves, To promote the development and application of scientific
expertise and experience in modeling and visualization of physical,
technological, biological and social processes and their implications to
the mitigation of natural disasters; and
2. To share this critical information to the greatest extent possible
with government officials, emergency planners, the insurance industry,
policy makers, and the public.
This short, informal newsletter is intended to keep IUGG Member National
Committees informed about the activities of the IUGG Associations, and
actions of the IUGG Secretariat. Past issues are posted on the IUGG Web
site. Please forward this message to those who will benefit from the
information. Your comments are welcome.
End of IUGG Electronic Journal Volume 5 Number 1a (January 11, 2005)
J. A. Joselyn, Secretary General [http://www.IUGG.org]
secretariat@iugg.org fax: 1 303 497 3645