The training workshop was developed with support from the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO/IOC) and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). It was held between 27 and 30 September 2022 at the offices of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy (SHOA).
Following the 15 January 2022 Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami, and within the framework of activities of the Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation in the Southeast Pacific Region (WG-SEP), this workshop entitled "Shared Access to Sea Level Data: A Tool for Effective Regional Tsunami Emergency Response" was organized.
The workshop brought together representatives from the National Tsunami Warning Centers of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Expert presentations were also made by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), VLIZ, UNESCO/IOC and SHOA.
The primary objective of the workshop was to enhance capabilities of WG-SEP Member States for tsunami warning and mitigation through sharing of data in real time from regional sea level stations.
According to Francisco Hernández, one of the speakers from VLIZ, the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai tsunami event highlighted the importance of tide gauges in tsunami warning. It also underlined the need to include this technology in the global ocean observation network, thus increasing the number of instruments that can report significant variations in sea level. This information is important for efforts to ensure the safety of coastal populations.
Mr Hernández also emphasized that holding workshops (such as this one) is critical to identifying and understanding the specific needs and consideration of each country, and thus supporting effective cooperation and data sharing. This provides decision makers with needed information to address emergency events.
Lieutenant Commander Lorena Marquez, Head of the Peruvian NTWC, noted that participating in the workshop was an opportunity for countries of the region to share experiences and information useful to the continued improvement of their respective tsunami warning services. Indeed, exchanging with other tsunami warning centres enables each country to gain a better understanding knowledge of the regional marine environment as well as national tsunami operational procedures.
Lieutenant Commander Marquez stated that "The opportunity to get to know the heads of other tsunami warning centers not only contributes to developing camaraderie, but also facilitates the transition of data in a smoother manner".
During the closing ceremony, Commodore Arturo Oxley Lizana, Director of SHOA an Chairperson of the workshop, highlighted the relevance of cooperation to face the threat of tsunamis in the Pacific basin. He noted that the workshop had been successful in strengthening this cooperation. Indeed, through the workshop, representatives from the regional NTWCs agreed that 26 additional sea level stations across the region will share their data with the IOC Sea Level Monitoring Facility, thus providing additional information to decision-makers across the region. Of the 26 sea levels stations added, the stations are located as follows: 14 in Peru, six in Ecuador, four in Colombia, and two in Chile.
Overall, following from this workshop, NTWCs in the region will be able to monitor sea level stations of other countries in the event of a tsunami in the Pacific Ocean basin. They will also be able to share their own data, there by enhancing international cooperation on tsunami within the framework of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/PTWS).
Map of sea-level stations in the SEP region that are included in the IOC Sea Level Monitoring Facility (before and after the workshop)