INCOIS to lay 150 km submarine cable at Andaman & Nicobar Islands to study Indian Ocean
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has been chosen by the international scientific community to take up a submarine cable initiative for undertaking long term observations of the Indian Ocean.
The submarine cable multi-parameter observatory of approximately 150 km in length is to be situated west of Wandoor in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The infrastructure will comprise two science nodes along the cable, equipped with oceanographic and geophysical sensors positioned at water depths ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 metres.
The landing station will be established at an observatory in Wandoor, with a control centre for real-time data acquisition and monitoring at the institute headquarters here in Hyderabad, said INCOIS Director T.M. Balakrishnan Nair.
This observatory is expected to play a transformative role in understanding the churning occurring in the ocean, including the seismic activity and the potential to trigger tsunamis. It will also study the various oceanographic, geophysical parameters for climate research and operational applications related to tsunami and storm surge early warning system, he said.
Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme
INCOIS, working under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has been chosen for three of the 10 key research projects under the Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP) being taken up by the Inter-Governmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, headquartered in France.
The programme is meant for expanding knowledge of past or potential tsunami sources, studying the impact on critical infrastructure and marine assets and how to minimise them by improving monitoring and warnings.
Dr. Nair will also be in-charge of another project called People Centred Tsunami Early Warning for India (PCTWIN) for improving disaster risk knowledge, improved detection, observation, and forecasting, advancements in communication and increased preparedness.
Creating a knowledge base of tsunamigenic sources in the Indian Ocean, rapid source characterization by incorporating land survey data and promoting forecast towards probabilistic tsunami forecasting is part of the research. The United Nations (UN) has called for global coverage of early warning systems, recognising tsunamis as among the deadliest natural disasters, he pointed out.
Tsunami Ready Odisha
The third project is 'Tsunami Ready Odisha' (TRO) project aims to strengthen coastal community resilience by enhancing awareness and preparedness to protect lives, livelihoods, and property from tsunami threats. This is linked to UNESCO-IOC 'Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme' (TRRP) to prepare coastal communities in Odisha to respond to tsunami and reduce potential losses in association with the Odisha State Disaster Management Agency (OSDMA).
The institute has been providing access to tsunami hazard maps, evacuation and response plans. While two villages were declared tsunami ready, work is on for at least 20-odd more villages there, he said.
Other global institutions working on various projects under the ODTP are Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Belgium, which is tasked with a sea level station monitoring facility connecting 1,034 real time stations with a network of 170 data providers for early warnings.
A Global Tsunami Model (GTM) network of experts is being worked by the University of Hamburg (Germany), and Global Real Time Early Alarm for Tsunami (GREAT) by Cardiff University (UK).
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