Australia: Tsunami detection centre for Perth

Perth is to play a major role in the early detection of tsunamis throughout the Indian Ocean, the Federal Government said today. The UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in Paris has decided to base the secretariat for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in Perth.

The secretariat, located at the WA office of the Bureau of Meteorology, had run a global ocean observing system focusing on the Indian and south-west Pacific oceans, Environment Minister Ian Campbell said today.

"It makes good sense for the secretariat for an Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System to operate from Perth," he said.

"It is testament to the quality of Australia's technical and scientific agencies, including the Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia, that Australia was chosen to host the secretariat. The secretariat will play a coordinating role for the network of national systems that will make up the Indian Ocean warning system, including the newly announced $69 million Australian Tsunami Warning System, and data sharing arrangements."

Perth would also host the first meeting of the intergovernmental co-ordination group for the warning system from August 3-5, Senator Campbell said.


(Source: News Australia)