WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
RA V/TCC-XIII/Doc. 7(2)
(22.IV.2010)
___________________________
______________
RA V TROPICAL CYCLONE COMMITTEE FOR THE
SOUTH PACIFIC AND SOUTH-EAST INDIAN
OCEAN
ITEM 7
THIRTEENTH SESSION
BALI, INDONESIA, 26 TO 29 APRIL 2010
ENGLISH ONLY
STORM SURGE ADVISORY ARRANGEMENTS
INTEGRATED STORM SURGE WATCH SCHEME
(Submitted by the Secretariat)
Summary and Purpose of Document
This document provides background information related to the development of an
integrated Storm Surge Watch Scheme
ACTION PROPOSED
The Tropical Cyclone Committee is invited to:
(a)
Review and comment on the activities carried out within the Storm Surge Watch
Scheme under both the general and regional components since its Twelfth Session
(Alofi, Niue, 11 – 17 July 2008);
(b)
Offer proposals for new projects, particularly those related to the regional
implementation of the scheme;
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Appendix:
Recommendation 6 of the Third JCOMM session (Marrakech, November 2009)
Integrated Storm Surge Watch Scheme
RA V/TCC-XIII/Doc. 7(2), p. 2
Background Information
1.
Following the request by the WMO Executive Council, in its sixtieth session (June 2008),
to the Secretary-General, in consultation with UNESCO/IOC, to facilitate the development of storm
surge watch schemes (SSWS) for regions subject to tropical cyclones, and to regional associations
concerned to incorporate such schemes in the tropical cyclone advisory arrangements and in the
TCP Regional Operating Plans and/or Manual, WMO has initiated, through the joint efforts of TCP
and JCOMM, the development of such schemes in regions subjected to tropical cyclones.
2.
The English version of the first edition of the JCOMM Guide to Storm Surge Forecasting
had been prepared, and will be published and available in late 2010.
3.
A community white paper on Storm Surge (http://www.oceanobs09.net/blog/?p=602)
describing the results from the 1st JCOMM Scientific and Technical Symposium on Storm Surges
was held in Seoul, Korea in October 2007, was presented during the Conference “OceanObs’09 :
Sustained Ocean Observations and Information for Society” (Venice, September 2009). A set of
actions and recommendations are proposed for the scientific, governmental and intergovernmental organizations responsible for multi-hazard marine warning systems, and quantitative
requirements for Storm Surge observations and modeling are indicated.
4.
The third session of JCOMM (Marrakech November 2009) requested in its 6th
Recommendation (see Appendix) the collaboration between WMO Members, Regional
Associations, and Experts Teams on the Integrated Storm Surge Watch Scheme. The Commission
also, recommended a regional approach towards storm surges risk reduction through the
implementation of demonstration projects, such as the “JCOMM/Commission for Hydrology
Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration Project (CIFDP) for building improved operational
forecasts and warnings capability and service delivery in coastal risk reduction”.
The Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration Project (CIFDP), a multidisciplinary
approach towards an integrated SSWS
5.
The JCOMM/CHy Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration Project (CIFDP) has
been initiated and a kick-off meeting held in Geneva in June 2009. The CIFDP approach towards a
regional implementation of the SSWS (Fig. 1) focuses on the improvement of coastal floods
forecasting and warning capacities through an enhanced collaboration between:
a) Scientific disciplines forecasters involved in coastal inundations forecasting and
warning systems: Tropical Cyclone Forecasters, Marine Meteorologists and
Hydrologists;
b) End-users and forecasters at a regional scale (e.g. NHMSs and Disaster
Management and Civil protection Agencies)
RA V/TCC-XIII/Doc. 7(2), p. 3
CIFDP-Proposed Scope of the Storm Surge Watch Scheme (SSWS)
Regional
Specialized
Meteorological
Centres
Requirements
Users
Specialized
Products
National
Meteorological
and
Hydrological
Services
International
Charter "Space
and Major
Disasters"
(activated through
Civil Protection
Authorities or
other selected
Agencies)
High Resolution
Images
Forecasts
Service
Provider
(e.g. UNOSAT)
Forecasts and
Warnings
Products based
on High
Resolution
Images and
Forecasts
Disaster
Management
and Civil
Protection
Authorities
International
and Regional
Humanitarian
Agencies
High Resolution Images and
forecasts
Figure 1: Proposed scope of the CIFDP within an integrated SSWS (from CIFDP concept and outline presentation of the
Secretariat, CIFDP kick-off meeting, Geneva, June 2009)
6.
Upcoming events for the SSWS and the CIFDP implementation:
o
18-22 May 2010, JCOMM-ETWS-III: 3rd session of JCOMM Expert Team on Wind
Wave and Storm Surge in Toronto, Canada;
o
2010 (second-half, TBD), CIFDP Stakeholders Workshop in Bangladesh;
o
7-9 October 2010, JCOMM-ETOOFS-III, 3rd session of JCOMM Expert Team on
Operational Ocean Forecasting Systems in Tokyo, Japan;
o
6-10 December 2010, RA IV-TCP/MMO and Hurricane Committee Training
Workshop on Storm Surge Forecasting in Dominican Republic;
o
13-18 December 2010, CIFDP Stakeholders Workshop in Dominican Republic –
TBC.
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RA V/TCC-XIII/Doc. 7(2), p. 4
APPENDIX A – RECOMMENDATION 6 OF THE JOINT WMO-IOC TECHNICAL COMMISSION
FOR MARINE METEOROLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY THIRD SESSION, MARRAKECH,
MARROCCO, 4-11 NOVEMBER 2009 (WMO report-No. 1049)
Recommendation 6 (JCOMM-III)
INTEGRATED STORM SURGE WATCH SCHEME
THE JOINT WMO/IOC TECHNICAL COMMISSION FOR
OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE METEOROLOGY,
Noting:
(1)
The Abridged Final Report with Resolutions and Recommendations of the Second Session
of the Joint WMO/IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology
(WMO-No. 995), general summary, paragraphs 3.4 (a) and (c), 5.1.33, 8.1.3, 11.5.11 and
11.5.15,
(2)
The final report of the second session of the JCOMM Expert Team on Wind Waves and
Storm Surges (ETWS) (JCOMM/MR-No. 49),
(3)
The final report and recommendations of the JCOMM Scientific and Technical Symposium
on Storm Surges (JCOMM/TR-No. 44),
(4)
The request by the WMO Executive Council, at its sixtieth session (Geneva, June 2008),
endorsed by the forty-first session of the UNESCO/IOC Executive Council (Paris,
June 2008), to implement the recommendations from the Symposium,
(5)
The request by the WMO Executive Council at its sixtieth session (Geneva, June 2008) to
the Secretary-General of WMO, in consultation with UNESCO/IOC, to:
(a) Facilitate the development of storm surge watch schemes for regions subject to
tropical cyclones, and to regional associations concerned to incorporate such schemes
in the tropical cyclone advisory arrangements and in the Tropical Cyclone Programme
Regional Operating Plans and/or Manual,
(b) Promote the participation of space agencies in the storm surge watch schemes,
(c) Give high priority to these activities,
Considering:
(1)
That storm surges, both tropical and extra-tropical, represent a major marine hazard, and
result in the loss of life and property in many parts of the world on a regular basis,
(2)
That accurate and timely forecasts and warnings would contribute substantially to mitigating
the threat to life and property from storm surges,
(3)
That the preparation and issuing of such forecasts and warnings is the responsibility of
National Meteorological Services and/or oceanographic agencies in many countries,
(4)
That many such Services and agencies would benefit substantially from storm surge model
enhancement, hydrological forecast information and increased data resources, including
both in situ and space-based observations in the preparation of forecasts and warnings of
storm surges and associated inundation,
RA V/TCC-XIII/Doc. 7(2), p. 5
(5)
That related activities addressing various components of an Integrated Storm Surge Watch
Scheme have recently been initiated, including:
(a) A JCOMM/Commission for Hydrology Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration
Project for building improved operational forecasts and warnings capability and service
delivery in coastal risk reduction, including for coastal inundation,
(b) A UNESCO project on Enhancing Regional Capabilities for Coastal Hazards
Forecasting and Data Portal Systems for scientific development on enhanced storm
surge modelling capabilities,
(c)
A European Space Agency (ESA) Storm Surge Project to improve storm surge
forecasting systems and applications through the innovative use of ocean, land and
atmospheric satellite observations,
Agrees that JCOMM should give high priority to the development of demonstration project(s) for
building integrated global and regional storm surge watch schemes within a multi-hazard
framework, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including with the appropriate WMO
technical commissions and programmes, UNESCO/IOC subsidiary bodies, other United Nations
agencies and international organizations, and that both WMO and UNESCO/IOC be involved in the
storm surge watch schemes and related activities through an open and mutually-agreed workplan
in this area,
Requests the Expert Team on Wind Waves and Storm Surges to provide technical advice,
guidance and coordination in the development of such demonstration project(s), in close
collaboration with WMO regional associations,
Recommends that Members/Member States support the development and implementation of the
Demonstration Project(s) by providing extrabudgetary contributions to the JCOMM Trust Fund and
seconding experts to work in the WMO and UNESCO/IOC Secretariats to speed up project
development and implementation,
Requests the Secretary-General of WMO and the Executive Secretary of UNESCO/IOC to provide
adequate budgetary resources to achieve the objectives of the demonstration project(s).