The JTF, formally established in 2012 with secretariat support from
ITU, is presently composed of over 80 experts from the science,
engineering, business and law communities. The 2nd Workshop
on “Submarine Communications Networks for Climate Monitoring
and Disaster Warning” (Paris, 20-21 September 2012) started the
development of a strategic plan for the deployment of dual-purpose
submarine telecommunication cables in the high seas. It explored
scientific and societal needs, research into new engineering
technologies, business opportunities, legal challenges, and
proposed bases of sensor standards that may be applied for the
development of submarine telecommunication cable projects that
wish to be equipped with a suitable suite of sensors.
Through its five committees and meetings, the JTF is advancing a
strategy and roadmap to enable the availability of green cables
equipped with scientific sensors for climate monitoring and
disaster risk reduction (tsunamis). It is also analyzing the potential
renovation and relocation of retired out-of-service cables. Further
focused discussions were held at the 3rd Workshop on “Propelling a
Pilot Project on Green Cables” (Madrid, 19-20 September 2013).
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CABLES FOR
CLIMATE
MONITORING
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WARNING!
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Three reports were
commissioned and published
on Strategy and Roadmap,
Engineering Feasibility, and
Opportunities and Legal
Framework.
the series include
ng feasibility study
tegy and roadmap
d legal challenges
Using submarine cables for climate
monitoring and disaster warning
Engineering feasibility study
Printed in Switzerland
Geneva, 2012
hoto credits: Shutterstock®
Previous reports in the series include
cables for climate monitoring and disaster warning - Engineering feasibility study
marine cables for climate monitoring and disaster warning - Strategy and roadmap
or climate monitoring and disaster warning - Opportunities and legal challenges
Using submarine cables for climate
monitoring and disaster warning
Strategy and roadmap
nge: itu.int/ITU-T/climatechange/
u.int
Printed in Switzerland
Geneva, 2012
Photo credits: Shutterstock®
Previous reports in the series include
Using submarine cables for climate monitoring and disaster warning - Engineering feasibility study
Using submarine cables for climate monitoring and disaster warning - Strategy and roadmap
Using submarine cables for climate monitoring and disaster warning - Opportunities and legal challenges
Using submarine cables for climate
monitoring and disaster warning
Opportunities and legal
challenges
Interested experts can request to become
members of the JTF, by contacting
greenstandard@itu.int.
July 2012
About ITU-T and Climate Change: itu.int/ITU-T/climatechange/
E-mail: greenstandard@itu.int
Printed in Switzerland
Geneva, 2012
Photo credits: Shutterstock®
http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/climatechange/task-force-sc/Pages/default.aspx
The ITU/WMO/UNESCO-IOC
Joint Task Force was
established to investigate
using submarine
telecommunications cables
for ocean and climate
monitoring and disaster
warning.
we,
the participants at
the ITU, UNESCO-IOC,
WMO Workshop on
“Submarine Cables for Ocean/Climate Monitoring and
Disaster Warning: Science, Engineering, Business and
Law” in Rome, Italy from 8 to 9 September 2011 call
upon the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO-IOC) and the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) to establish
and coordinate a joint task force composed of world
renowned experts from science, engineering, business
and law, which will:
Study and evaluate
scientific, engineering,
business, and societal
benefits, opportunities,
challenges and risks
associated to the
use of submarine
telecommunications cables
for ocean and climate
monitoring and disaster
warning, as well as legal
aspects of such use;
Develop a strategy and
roadmap that could lead
to enabling the availability
of submarine repeaters
equipped with scientific
sensors for climate
monitoring and disaster risk
reduction such as pressure,
temperature, salinity/
conductivity, seismic,
hydroacoustic and cable
voltage in the near future;
A new generation of scientific cabled ocean observatories
is emerging at a few selected sites, but there is a need and
opportunity to extend observations and monitoring over much
wider area of the global oceans. Submarine telecommunication
cables equipped with sensors to measure key variables such as
water temperature, pressure and acceleration on the ocean floor are
viewed as vital to monitor climate change and to provide tsunami
warnings. Developing such a real-time ocean-wide monitoring
system is a bold vision. Some pioneering projects have already
proven the concept, launching ambitious initiatives in small key
regions of the deep ocean to study ocean processes.
Analyze the development
of projects that could
include renovation and
relocation of retired out-ofservice cables for disaster
warning, ocean and
climate monitoring;
Cooperate closely with
the International Cable
Protection Committee (ICPC)
to investigate and report on
the technical feasibility of
incorporating the required
scientific sensors into
the design, manufacture,
installation and operation
of submarine repeaters
in a safe manner without
affecting cable systems
and telecommunication
signals, and avoiding risks
that could affect the normal
operation of the cables;
Consider a business model
of how sensor data from
submarine cables could
be provided and could be
made available for scientific
purposes and societal
benefit;
Identify financing models
and opportunities to
promote the development
of ocean climate monitoring
and disaster warning
systems by the use of
submarine cables;
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO-IOC) and
the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) organized a workshop
on “Submarine Cables for Ocean/Climate Monitoring and Disaster
Warning: Science, Engineering, Business and Law” on 8-9 September
2011. This was attended by all sectors of the cables for climate
community, and adopted a Call to Action (below) inviting ITU,
UNESCO-IOC and WMO to establish and coordinate a Joint Task Force
(JTF) to explore the potential of a submarine climate monitoring and
disaster warning system.
Consider ways to
further promote the
implementation of the
legal regime, as reflected
in the United Nations
Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS) and
other instruments, for the
protection of submarine
cables, including awareness
building and mobilization of
support at the national and
global levels;
Organize similar
workshops to report
on the progress;
Ensure that the outcomes of
the above efforts/activities
take into account and are
consistent with international
law, as reflected in UNCLOS;
Invite ITU to consider
providing secretariat
support for the joint task
force.
We encourage ITU, UNESCO/
IOC and WMO to bring
this Call to Action to the
attention of the United
Nations Framework
Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), the States
Parties to UNCLOS and the
United Nations Secretariat.