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About the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre

 

Introduction to the JATWC

 

With the introduction of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) in July 2007, Australia now has the capacity to detect and verify potential tsunami in our region.

 

The JATWC combines the operational roles of Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Bureau of Meteorology (the Bureau). GA notifies the Bureau of any significant earthquakes and assists in determining the likelihood of a tsunami. The Bureau then uses its network of sea-level monitoring equipment (including coastal sea-level gauges and deep ocean tsunami detection buoys) and tsunami computer models to confirm the existence of a tsunami and estimate its likely intensity at the Australian coast. The Bureau then issues the relevant tsunami warnings and bulletins for Australia (including islands and territories) as required.

 

JATWC Products

 

GA's Operations Centre in Canberra and the Bureau's National Meteorological and Oceanographic Centre (NMOC) in Melbourne form the JATWC which takes the lead role in issuing National advice regarding the possibility of tsunami threat to Australia (including islands and territories). If, after a Potential Threat Bulletin is issued by the JATWS further data confirms the tsunami threat, the Bureau's Regional Forecasting Centres will issue tsunami warnings for the States and Territories under threat.

 

Bulletins and Warnings that may be issued by the JATWC through the Bureau's National and Regional Operational Centres include:

1. No Threat to Australia Bulletin
   Notification of no tsunami threat to Australian mainland or islands after an undersea earthquake has occurred.
2. Potential Threat to Australian Coast or Islands Bulletin
   Notification of a possible threat to Australian mainland or islands after an undersea earthquake has occurred. Regional Warnings may follow.
3. Cancellation of Potential Threat Bulletin
   Notification that more information gathered regarding the characteristics of the undersea earthquake mean that there is no tsunami threat to Australian mainland or islands (thus cancelling the Potential Threat Bulletin). No Regional Warnings will follow.
4. Public Tsunami Warnings
   A Public Tsunami Warning may be issued following the issue of a Potential Threat Bulletin. This warning will outline the areas under threat and the action that should be taken by the community. The level of action you should take when a tsunami warning is issued will differ depending on the characteristics of the tsunami. Listen to the media (on radio or television) and immediately follow the advice you may receive from police and other emergency services.
5. Public Tsunami Warning Updates
   Warning updates are issued when new information becomes available to the Bureau. Listen to the media (on radio or television) and immediately follow the advice you may receive from police and other emergency services.
6. Cancellation of Tsunami Warnings
   A warning will be cancelled when the time period during which the tsunami threat is possible has elapsed or once the main series of tsunami waves has passed a region of coastline. Listen to the media (on radio or television) and immediately follow the advice you may receive from police and other emergency services.

 

Distribution of Tsunami Bulletins and Warnings to the Media and Public

 

The media are the key communication dissemination mechanism that allows the Bureau to inform the public in the case of a tsunami event. Tsunami bulletin and warning distribution lists are maintained at each of the Bureau's State and Territory Regional Forecasting Centres. These distribution lists are used for both National JATWC Bulletins and Regional Warnings. In addition to the media, key agencies such as the State and Territory Emergency Services, Local Councils, Port Authorities, Police etc. are included on these dissemination lists. The bulletin and warning messages are also automatically uploaded to the Bureau of Meteorology's website.

Key Supporting agencies

 

The State and Territory Emergency Services

In general, emergency management of tsunami events is the responsibility of the State and Territory Emergency Services authority in each region. Refer to the State and Territory Emergency Services Authority in your area for further details. In the event of a tsunami warning for Australia for which you urgently need extra advice, please listen to your local radio and TV announcements for emergency services messages.

Emergency Management Australia

Emergency Management Australia (EMA) supports the system through its community awareness and preparedness campaigns as well as assisting the States and Territories to prepare increase their capacity to manage tsunami outside a real time event.

 

EMA also have a role in coordinating a national response to a tsunami disaster if requested by the States or Territories.

 

Moving towards a fully functional Australian Tsunami Warning System

 

The establishment of the fully functional Australian Tsunami Warning System is a four-year project funded by the Federal Government that is due to be completed in June 2009. At the completion of the project Australia will have considerably improved earthquake and tsunami detection equipment in Australia and around the region, enhanced scientific modelling of tsunami, a responsive warning system, and increased public awareness and community preparedness.

 

Before the JATWC

 

The establishment of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) is a major milestone in Australia. It is the first time that Australia has had its own self reliant capability to detect, monitor and verify the existence of tsunami in our region.

 

Australia previously relied on advice of a tsunami from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC, which currently provides tsunami advice for the Pacific and Indian Oceans) in Hawaii and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA, which currently provides tsunami advice for Japan and the Indian Ocean). This advice was interpreted for Australia (including islands and territories) and forwarded to the State and Territory Emergency Services and the media by the Bureau of Meteorology.