‘World Oceans Day' held at INCOIS
Goa University V-C Harilal Menon delivered a special talk on 'From coastline to community: partnering for resilience in an ocean warming scenario.
INCOIS Director T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, scientists Hasibur Rahaman, N. Suresh Kumar, Trishneeta Bhattacharya, chairman of Telangana Higher Education Council (TGCHE) V. Balakista Reddy and others spoke, said a press release.
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The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
INCOIS to focus on forecasts on low profile but high impact events like high waves and storm surges
Thayannur Mullachery Balakrishnan Nair, a founding scientist of the Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Systems (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has recently taken over as Director. In this exclusive interview, he shares insights into the next phase of ocean observation and forecasting services. INCOIS has completed 25 years. How do you look at the evolution of the institute? For a scientific institution, 25 years is relatively young. Yet, we have emerged as global leaders in ocean information systems. Only four other countries — the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Japan — have this level of operational oceanography. We began with potential fishing advisories (PFA), followed by tsunami warnings, ocean forecasts, and more. Our focus has been on improving the accuracy of observation systems for better forecasts to serve stakeholders like fishermen, maritime industry, Indian Navy, Coast Guard and tourism sector. Has INCOIS been able to achieve its stated mission objectives during this time? 200%! Our growth has been phenomenal. The institute was built brick-by-brick, thanks to the visionary directors right from the beginning. Our research and publications have had a tangible social impact, especially in helping the common man. The ISRO culture of nation-building and teamwork has inspired us. Secretary MoES M. Ravichandran have been very supportive. How has the importance of oceanography gained recognition over the years? There was struggle in the early years. But our mission of translational research — how to give service to society and supporting stakeholders like the fishing community — has gained traction. Today, nine lakh fishermen receive our PFA advisories daily. We've established a vast network of observation systems to provide accurate forecasts, and we're continuously upgrading them with the latest technologies. How good are we in monitoring the oceans, especially the Indian Ocean? We are among the best having invested a lot in tide gauge networks, automated weather stations, water quality monitoring buoys, Argo floats, tsunami buoys, and gliders. We are now developing undersea cable observatories for real-time monitoring. What are the benefits of real-time ocean monitoring? It enables us to provide timely services to society — whether it's identifying potential fishing zones, predicting high waves, or issuing tsunami and storm surge alerts. The shipping industry relies on us for safer routes, while the tourism sector needs information on beach safety and cleanliness. Our goal is to offer customized services. We also plan to provide ocean climate services like sea level rise, impact on coastal areas and blue economy stakeholders. How do you plan to expand your ocean monitoring systems? We are a key partner in UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), addressing 10 major challenges related to disaster risk reduction through advanced early warning systems. We are an integral part of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which has recognized us as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for early warnings and disaster management. We aim to develop a deep fishery information system, extending our current 20-kilometre range into international waters where countries like China and Taiwan are actively fishing. Are early warning alerts taken seriously by policy makers and stakeholders? Absolutely. We work closely with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State agencies to deliver alerts directly to the public through the Common Alert Protocol. Our current focus is on low-profile but high-impact events such as high waves and storm surges. Last year, 15 people lost their lives despite our warnings in Kerala. With rising sea levels, impact-based forecasts have become crucial. Can you elaborate on the need for advanced forecasting? We currently provide forecasts for three to four days. However, maritime users need long-term planning tools —sometimes months in advance. For decadal forecasting, we are planning advanced modelling systems powered by AI and machine learning, more satellite data, and seabed observation systems, especially in regions like the Andaman subduction zone. A constellation of satellites is essential to scan each site at least twice a day, compared to the current lag of one week to 22 days. INCOIS seems to have gone international by introducing buoys near Mauritius. What is the idea behind this? India is committed to supporting other nations in need of oceanographic information. We already provide alerts to 30-40 countries in the Indian Ocean and 14 countries in the Pacific. African nations, including Mozambique, are seeking our assistance, and we plan to expand our observation posts. So far, we have trained over 6,000 personnel from 97 countries in operational oceanography. Having built your entire scientific career here and now heading the institute, how do you look at it? I am proud and deeply satisfied. When I was recruited, I was asked about my vision. I was clear — I wanted to use science to serve society. Over the past two decades, we have contributed to saving lives, improving livelihoods, and helping government agencies manage natural disasters and marine-related developments. But, just giving information is not enough. We need to look into how climate change impacts our society, blue economy and agriculture. That is our vision.
The Hindu
08-08-2025
- The Hindu
INCOIS to focus on forecasts on low profile but high impact events like high waves & storm surges
Thayannur Mullachery Balakrishnan Nair (54), a founding scientist of the Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Systems (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has recently taken over as Director. In this exclusive interview, he shares insights into the next phase of ocean observation and forecasting services. INCOIS has completed 25 years. How do you look at the evolution of the institute? For a scientific institution, 25 years is relatively young. Yet, we have emerged as global leaders in ocean information systems. Only four other countries — the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Japan —operate at this level of operational oceanography. We began with Potential Fishing Advisories (PFA), followed by tsunami warnings, ocean forecasts, and more. Our focus has been on improving the accuracy of observation systems for better forecasts to serve stakeholders such as fishermen, maritime industry, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and tourism sector. Has INCOIS been able to achieve its stated mission objectives during this time? 200%! Our growth has been phenomenal. The institute was built brick by brick, by visionary directors from K. Radhakrishnan to my immediate predecessor T. Srinivasa Kumar. Our research and publications have had a tangible social impact, especially in helping the common man. The ISRO culture of nation-building and teamwork has inspired us. How has the importance of oceanography gained recognition over the years? There was struggle in the early years. But our mission of translational research— how to give service to the society and and supporting stakeholders like the fishing community—has gained traction. Today, nine lakh fishermen receive our PFA advisories daily. We've established a vast network of observation systems to provide accurate forecasts, and we're continuously upgrading them with the latest technologies. How good are we in monitoring the oceans, especially the Indian Ocean? We are among the best having invested a lot in tide gauge networks, automated weather stations, water quality monitoring buoys, Argo floats, tsunami buoys, and gliders. We are now developing undersea cable observatories for real-time monitoring. What are the benefits of real-time ocean monitoring? It enables us to provide timely services to society—whether it's identifying potential fishing zones, predicting high waves, or issuing tsunami and storm surge alerts. The shipping industry relies on us for safer routes, while the tourism sector needs information on beach safety and cleanliness. Our goal is to offer customized services. We also plan to provide ocean climate services like sea level rise, impact on coastal areas and blue economy stakeholders. How do you plan to expand your ocean monitoring systems? We are a key partner in UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), addressing 10 major challenges related to disaster risk reduction through advanced early warning systems. We are an integral part of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which has recognized us as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for early warnings and disaster management. We aim to develop a deep fishery information system, extending our current 20-kilometre range into international waters where countries like China and Taiwan are actively fishing. Are early warning alerts taken seriously by policy makers and stakeholders? Absolutely. We work closely with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State agencies to deliver alerts directly to the public through the Common Alert Protocol. Our current focus is on low-profile but high-impact events such as high waves and storm surges. Last year, 15 people lost their lives despite our warnings in Kerala. With rising sea levels, impact-based forecasts have become crucial. Can you elaborate on the need for advanced forecasting? We currently provide forecasts for three to four days. However, maritime users need long-term planning tools—sometimes months in advance. For decadal forecasting, we are planning advanced modelling systems powered by AI and machine learning, more satellite data, and seabed observation systems, especially in regions like the Andaman subduction zone. A constellation of satellites is essential to scan each site at least twice a day, compared to the current lag of one week to 22 days. INCOIS seems to have gone international by introducing buoys near Mauritius. What is the idea behind this? India is committed to supporting other nations in need of oceanographic information. We already provide alerts to 30-40 countries in the Indian Ocean and 14 countries in the Pacific. African nations, including Mozambique, are seeking our assistance, and we plan to expand our observation posts. So far, we have trained over 6,000 personnel from 97 countries in operational oceanography. Having built your entire scientific career here and now heading the institute, how do you look at it? I am proud and deeply satisfied. When I was recruited, I was asked about my vision. I was clear — I wanted to use science to serve society. Over the past two decades, I have contributed to saving lives, improving livelihoods, and helping government agencies manage natural disasters and marine-related developments.
India Today
30-07-2025
- India Today
Tsunamis: Cause and everything else you need to know
Tsunamis are one of the most devastating natural disasters on Earth, often arriving without warning and causing widespread destruction. A tsunami is a series of powerful ocean waves usually triggered by undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. These waves can travel at speeds of up to 800 km/h and grow in height as they approach coastlines, making tsunami awareness and early warning systems critical for saving lives. In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know about tsunamis, their causes, effects, detection, and safety tips, while exploring why tsunami preparedness is more important than ever in today's changing a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about tsunamis, from their origin to the latest technologies used for detection and IS A TSUNAMI?A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by large, sudden displacements of water, typically resulting from:Undersea earthquakesVolcanic eruptionsLandslidesOr, in rare cases, meteorite impactsUnlike ordinary waves formed by wind, tsunamis carry massive energy, often traversing entire ocean basins at jetliner AND TERMINOLOGYThe word tsunami is derived from Japanese: tsu (harbor) and nami (wave) a nod to the devastating effects these waves have had on Japanese coasts over they were also called 'tidal waves,' but that term is misleading since tsunamis have nothing to do with OF TSUNAMIS1. Subduction zone earthquakes (Most common cause)When tectonic plates collide and one plate slips beneath another (a process called subduction), immense energy is released. If the sea floor is displaced vertically, water is shoved upwards or downwards, creating waves that radiate outward.2. Volcanic activityUnderwater eruptions or collapsing volcanic islands can rapidly displace water.3. Landslides and glacial calvingLarge chunks of rock or ice plunging into the sea displace water instantly.4. MeteoritesRare but catastrophic, an asteroid impact in the ocean could generate massive tsunamis. Though unlikely, this is the basis of many global extinction theories. Tsunamis: What causes them and everything else you need to know HOW ARE TSUNAMIS DETECTED?Tsunami Early Warning Systems (TEWS) have been set up in vulnerable regions. Key components include:Seismic Monitoring: Detects undersea Buoys: Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis use pressure sensors to detect water column Gauges: Measure sea level rise at Monitor and relay real-time Alert Systems: Sirens, mobile alerts, and radio India, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) operates a state-of-the-art tsunami warning centre in FORECASTING AND MODELLINGOnce a potential tsunami is detected:1. Location and depth of the seismic event are analysed.2. Models simulate how waves will propagate.3. Coastal communities receive warnings and evacuation tsunamis cannot be predicted in advance. Scientists can only issue alerts after a triggering event has TO DO DURING A TSUNAMI?BeforeKnow your evacuation up for local an emergency to higher ground away from beaches and wait for official warnings if you feel a strong earthquake near the coast, natural warning signs include:EarthquakesUnusual sea withdrawalRoaring ocean soundAfterStay tuned to official debris-laden others if you can, and follow rescue team AFFECTED REGIONSTsunamis are most frequent around the Pacific Ocean's 'Ring of Fire,' a seismically active zone. However, other regions including the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, and parts of the Atlantic are also HISTORIC TSUNAMIS2004 Indian Ocean – Over 230,000 lives lost2011 Japan (Tohoku) – Triggered a nuclear disaster at FukushimaARE TSUNAMIS GETTING MORE DANGEROUS?With climate change and rising sea levels, coastal vulnerabilities are increasing. While tsunamis themselves are not climate-driven, their impact is worsened by:Coastal urbanisationCoral reef destructionWetland loss- Ends
