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The World Science Day,
which falls on the 10th November every year, was highlighted
this year by activities that promoted awareness of natural
disasters amongst the public as its main theme. A special
volume of the Vidurava science magazine devoted to disaster
awareness was released on this occasion.
Further, satellite programmes were conducted in four
districts, to promote awareness of natural disasters and
explain their scientific bases to school children.
Scientists within these districts were encouraged to
participate in these programmes. School children were
requested to stage a drama on a theme related to natural
disasters.
A poster competition was organized to facilitate active
participation of children of all ages. The best drama and
poster from each district were accommodated at World Science
Day celebrations held at the BMICH in November. SCOPS of the
NSF released a children's story book on tsunami, written by
Ms. Sumithra Rahubedda with artistic presentation by Ms.
Sybil Wettasinghe.
This publication, which is in all three languages, will be
distributed to school libraries and is available for sale at
the NSF counter. SCOPS are planning to publish similar books
on all disasters. Several video programmes are being
produced on disasters, in all three languages, and will be
telecast soon.
To facilitate the diffusion of scientific concepts, the NSF
has launched a programme to assist science writers to
publish quality reading material written in simple language
and format. These will supplement the ongoing NSF programmes
in promoting scientific literacy with the objective of
empowering the public to confidently face up to natural
disaster situations. |
           
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SCOPS and the SLAAS are
also collaborating on a project to produce supplementary
reading material on relevant themes. A sub-committee of
SCOPS has also prepared resource material for a disaster
preparedness training programme. Three training and lesson
modules for this project will be finalized by early January
2006.
Building confidence and inculcating the scientific bases
behind disasters and facing high risk situations by even the
remotest communities in the country, is the ultimate aim of
the NSF programme. This cannot be achieved by a single
programme or by a single organization or in a short time.
It needs effective partnership amongst all stakeholders
responsible for the dissemination of basic information and
educating the public to face disaster situations effectively
and with confidence. This is a continuing programme, which
needs to be executed with efficient planning, monitoring and
effective management.
The Early Warning System for Sri Lanka
It is the opinion of most experts that a tsunami of
comparable magnitude to the 2004 event has a low probability
of occurring in the eastern Indian Ocean in the immediate
future. Yet, this is no reason to be complacent.. In the
aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the need for a
reliable tsunami warning system similar to that operating in
the Pacific Ocean was identified.
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has
been at the forefront of establishing an ocean wide EWS for
the region and the basic infrastructure for such a system
are already on stream. An effective tsunami warning system
must include four key components, namely,
1) detection of hazard
2) assessment of risk
3) dissemination of the warning
4) preparedness by the community to respond as advised in
advance
The UNESCO/IOC in collaboration with the Indian Ocean states
and other stakeholders convened a conference in Paris in
March 2005 to reach agreement on the structure and operation
of such a warning system. This meeting was followed by a
Ministerial Meeting in Mauritius in April 2005.
It was agreed that the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS)
will comprise of a coordinated network of national systems
and capacities, and will be part of a global network of
early warning systems for all ocean related hazards. Within
the IOTWS, each Member State will have the responsibility to
issue warnings within their respective territories.
For this purpose the respective Warning Centres of
individual nations must be well equipped to receive and
analyze information, detect the hazard, assess the risk and
issue the warning to the community who have been adequately
trained and coached on how best to respond to the specific
type of warning issued. The Mauritius Meeting led to the
establishment of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG),
which met for the first time in Perth in August 2005.
The ICG will meet regularly to report, discuss and monitor
the initiatives and actions taken by the nations
individually and jointly to contribute to the establishment
of the IOTWS. The second ICG meeting was held in early
December in Hyderabad.
A reliable tsunami warning system requires information
arising from three instrumentation networks, namely, an
improved seismographic network, a real time sea level
observation network covering the Indian Ocean basin and the
deployment of advanced deep-sea pressure sensors capable of
detecting the tsunami as it travels over the deep ocean.
It also requires the availability of a well equipped warning
centre, which is able to detect the hazard, analyze, assess
the risk and issue an appropriate warning. The nations must
educate its people on disaster preparedness and how to
respond to a specific type of warning.
In order to achieve the specified objectives related to the
establishment of the IOTWS based on national and
international contributions, the ICG agreed on the
establishment of working groups covering critical areas of
the IOTWS.
The said working groups comprising representatives of the
nations and international experts are jointly contributing
to the establishment of the IOTWS.
At present there are five working groups namely,
1) Seismic Measurements, Data Collection and Exchange
2) Sea level data collection and exchange, including deep
ocean tsunami detection instruments
3) Risk Assessment
4) Tsunami hazard identification and characterization,
including modeling and prediction
5) Establishment of a System of Interoperable Centres
During the course of 2005 progress has been made in
improving seismographic networks, sea level observation
networks and the capabilities of national warning centres.
There have been considerable efforts in identifying and
providing access to a wide range of relevant databases and
networking. Of significant interest is the fact that India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia are planning the
deployment of deep sea buoys, which are currently being
developed.
The deep sea buoys, which form a key element of the IOTWS
will enable the detection of tsunami arising in the Sunda-Java
fault zone and provide early warnings to the Indian Ocean
states. It is expected that around 10 buoys will be in place
by the end of 2006.
The presence of these buoys will be of great advantage to
countries like Sri Lanka, which are located at a
considerable distance (~1600 km) from the potential
tsunamigenic fault line and providing them a warning of the
order of 1.0-1.5 hours.
This gives sufficient time for evacuation procedures.
Through the respective working groups the nations maintain a
working relationship on all issues related to each group.
Until the establishment of a fully equipped and staffed
Early Warning Centre in Sri Lanka, the Department of
Meteorology will act as the focal point in issuing warnings
of an impending disaster.
We wish to reiterate the importance of science, technology
and education in this endeavour. Disaster risk assessment
and analysis requires specialized training and capacity
building, which is at a low level in Sri Lanka - a situation
that has to be rectified soon.
Much has been achieved in a short time and much more remains
to be done. We cannot be satisfied with the pace of decision
making with regard to disaster related affairs. At the same
time we should spare some thought to all the victims of
disasters and help them restart their lives with hope and
new expectations.
Disaster awareness, preparedness, mitigation and management
programmes should go hand in hand with relief and
rehabilitation efforts. The ultimate aim should be
inherently secure, socially and economically resilient
communities.
Professor Ananda Gunatilaka
Geological Consultant, National Science Foundation of Sri
Lanka.
Professor M. T.M. Jiffry
Chairman SCOPS-NSF, University of Sri Jayawardenapura
Professor Samantha Hettiarachchi
Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa and NSF.
Concluded
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