NEARTOWARN A NEW PROJECT FUNDED BY EU DG ECHO

A new project, NEARTOWARN, with the coordination of Gerassimos Papadopoulos from the National Observatory of Athens, has been just funded by EU DG ECHO. The other project partner are the University of Bologna, the University of Cyprus, the University of Cantabria, ACRI-ST SAS and the Municipality of Rhodes. The aim of the project is to study the feasibility of early warning system for near-field local tsunami. The project will last two years, from 2012 to 2013

NEARTOWARN A NEW PROJECT FUNDED BY EU DG ECHO

A new project, NEARTOWARN, with the coordination of Gerassimos Papadopoulos from the National Observatory of Athens, has been just funded by EU DG ECHO. The other project partner are the University of Bologna, the University of Cyprus, the University of Cantabria, ACRI-ST SAS and the Municipality of Rhodes. The aim of the project is to study the feasibility of early warning system for near-field local tsunami. The project will last two years, from 2012 to 2013

Japan-UNESCO/UNU Symposium  16-17 February 2012, Tokyo, Japan

The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on 11 March 2011 caused nearly 20,000 people to lose their lives.
Since the event many national and international post-tsunami field surveys have been carried out. Performance analyses of tsunami early warning systems in place at the time of this event have also been done. Based on these surveys and performance analyses the symposium will offer a number of invited high level perspectives from decision makers and scientists and address topics including:
- Event facts and analysis
- Tsunami Warning Systems, Tsunami preparedness and event experiences
- What has been learned from this event and policy implications.
The symposium will be opened by Ms Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO

Website: http://ioc-tsunami.org/tohokusymposium

Workshop on coastal management approaches for sea-level related hazards

A workshop on the use of strategic coastal planning and management to reinforce awareness and preparedness for tsunamis and other sea-level related hazards will be held at UNESCO in Paris from 5 to 7 December 2011.

The objectives of the workshop are to sensitize civil protection and coastal managers on the use of strategic land use planning for strengthening preparedness for tsunamis and other sea-level related hazards in the context of integrated coastal area management, and to improve communication among different actors in preparedness.

Experts from 10 countries of the NEAM region will attend the workshop presenting case studies from different areas of the region.

Steady progress towards the provision of tsunami watch services for the NEAM region

The Eighth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) was hosted by Spain in Santander, Spain, from 22^nd to 24^thNovember 2011 at the Institute of Hydraulics of the University of Cantabria.

Steady progress has been made towards the provision of tsunami watch services for the region. France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Turkey confirmed that they will be operating national tsunami warning centres in the short-term, of which some already in 2012. In 2012 some of the national tsunami warning centres will offer interim operational tsunami watch provisions upon request to the member states of the NEAM region.

The eighth session of ICG/NEAMTWS was attended by about 70 participants from 20 members, 3 observers and 1 cooperating organization, the highest number ever since ICG/NEAMTWS was established. Several emergency response agencies were represented.