01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-05-0380 |
| Title of Abstract | Decision Support System for Tsunami Early Warning in the Indian Ocean: Framework, Operational Procedures |
| Authors | Dr. Ch. Patanjali Kumar*, Dr. B. Ajay Kumar, T.N.C. Karthik, Prof. B. Veeraiah, Dr. B. Sairam, Dr. R.S. Mahendra, Veera Ganesh, Dr. Sudheer Jospeh, Dr. T M. Balakrishnan Nair, Dr. Shailesh Nayak |
| Organisation | Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), M |
| Address | INCOIS Hyderabad, Telengana, India Pincode: 500090 E-mail: patanjali@incois.gov.in |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | In response to the catastrophic December 26, 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the Government of India established a comprehensive Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System to monitor and forecast tsunami events, enhancing coastal safety across the nation. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), operational at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, has provided continuous tsunami monitoring and advisories since October 15, 2007, serving as a critical safeguard for India⿿s extensive 11,000 km coastline, which remains highly vulnerable to seismic tsunamis, cyclones, and related hazards. The 2004 disaster revealed profound gaps in both infrastructure and preparedness, accentuating the urgent need for robust early warning mechanisms and community engagement. Central to the Indian warning system is the Decision Support System (DSS) at ITEWC. The DSS integrates real-time data from various sensors and automatically issues alerts and advisories according to preset decision rules, leveraging seismic parameters, numerical tsunami models, and water level observations. Advisories are generated and disseminated in near real-time, classified under four threat levels⿿warning, alert, watch, and no threat⿿as per National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines. Notably, coastal areas within 60 minutes of tsunami wave travel time from a seismic source receive automatic warnings based solely on earthquake data, while regions beyond this threshold are initially placed under watch, upgraded only after confirmation via water level instruments. This operational protocol is fortified by UNESCO-IOC⿿s tripartite Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS), which advocates interconnected hazard assessment, timely dissemination, and preparedness. The ITEWC⿿s advanced DSS framework and SOPs collectively elevate tsunami resilience, serving as a model for global coastal risk management. This paper critically examines the DSS, operational workflows, and forecasting advancements that underpin India⿿s reinforced approach to tsunami risk reduction and community safety. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | Tsunami Early Warning, Decision Support System, Standard Operating Procedure, Tsunami Travel Time, Tsunami Resilience |
| For Awards | no |