The Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO
holds a special session on a possible
contribution to a tsunami warning system
holds a special session on a possible
contribution to a tsunami warning system
PI/2005/04
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) held a special session on 4 March 2005 to consider a possible contribution of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission to a tsunami warning system.
The decision of the Preparatory Commission made at the special session on 4 March 2005 is attached.
The Provisional Technical Secretariat of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO will continue to cooperate with UNESCO and the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC) on the possible contribution to a tsunami warning system and will report on developments of the cooperation at the June session of the Preparatory Commission.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans any nuclear weapons test explosion in any environment. Drafted at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, and adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 September 1996, the Treaty was opened for signature on 24 September 1996 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. To date, it has been signed by 175 States and ratified by 120. It will enter into force when it has been ratified by all 44 States listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty. Thirty-three of these States have so far deposited their instruments of ratification.
Twenty-Fourth Session, Part I, Vienna, 4 March 2005
DECISION ON POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTION
OF THE CTBTO PREPARATORY COMMISSION
TO A TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM The Preparatory Commission, Expressing the shared recognition that the Preparatory Commission is willing to contribute to a tsunami warning system, Noting that the contribution of the Preparatory Commission to a tsunami warning system has to be made in accordance with the Treaty, its Protocol and the Resolution Establishing the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Bearing in mind that views expressed during the Twenty-Fourth Session of Working Group B (WGB) that the objective of the Preparatory Commission is to prepare for entry into force of the Treaty and that the contribution must not divert or change the task of the Preparatory Commission of establishing, provisionally operating, testing and evaluating the verification system, On the basis of recommendation 2 of the above mentioned session of WGB on data and products for a tsunami warning system, Decides to task the PTS to:
(a)Explore and initially assess with national authorities and international tsunami warning organizations recognized by UNESCO, upon their request, which data and products might be useful and can be provided by the PTS for tsunami warning. The assessment could include, inter alia, technical tests to facilitate the requesting organizations in addressing the nature, quality, quantity, timeliness and usefulness of the information provided. The technical tests could include primary seismic and hydroacoustic data, and, upon request, auxiliary seismic data, from selected stations, and results of automatic analysis of such data. The tests could also identify modalities for the compilation and forwarding of data and products by the PTS;
(b)Examine the legal framework, with reference to the Treaty, its Protocol and the Resolution Establishing the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, administrative and budgetary implications, as well as matters related to confidentiality. For the provision of PTS data and products on a test basis, the PTS should develop provisional arrangements with the requesting organizations;
(c)Examine and propose capacity building measures for the establishment and/or strengthening of National Data Centres in developing countries. The Preparatory Commission also decides to task the PTS to: Provide a written report on these matters to Part II of the Twenty-Fifth Session of WGB (29 August to 9 September 2005). The technical test shall be assessed at Part II of the Twenty-Fifth Session of WGB.
DECISION ON POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTION
OF THE CTBTO PREPARATORY COMMISSION
TO A TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM The Preparatory Commission, Expressing the shared recognition that the Preparatory Commission is willing to contribute to a tsunami warning system, Noting that the contribution of the Preparatory Commission to a tsunami warning system has to be made in accordance with the Treaty, its Protocol and the Resolution Establishing the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Bearing in mind that views expressed during the Twenty-Fourth Session of Working Group B (WGB) that the objective of the Preparatory Commission is to prepare for entry into force of the Treaty and that the contribution must not divert or change the task of the Preparatory Commission of establishing, provisionally operating, testing and evaluating the verification system, On the basis of recommendation 2 of the above mentioned session of WGB on data and products for a tsunami warning system, Decides to task the PTS to:
(a)Explore and initially assess with national authorities and international tsunami warning organizations recognized by UNESCO, upon their request, which data and products might be useful and can be provided by the PTS for tsunami warning. The assessment could include, inter alia, technical tests to facilitate the requesting organizations in addressing the nature, quality, quantity, timeliness and usefulness of the information provided. The technical tests could include primary seismic and hydroacoustic data, and, upon request, auxiliary seismic data, from selected stations, and results of automatic analysis of such data. The tests could also identify modalities for the compilation and forwarding of data and products by the PTS;
(b)Examine the legal framework, with reference to the Treaty, its Protocol and the Resolution Establishing the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, administrative and budgetary implications, as well as matters related to confidentiality. For the provision of PTS data and products on a test basis, the PTS should develop provisional arrangements with the requesting organizations;
(c)Examine and propose capacity building measures for the establishment and/or strengthening of National Data Centres in developing countries. The Preparatory Commission also decides to task the PTS to: Provide a written report on these matters to Part II of the Twenty-Fifth Session of WGB (29 August to 9 September 2005). The technical test shall be assessed at Part II of the Twenty-Fifth Session of WGB.
For further information on the CTBTO, please see www.ctbto.org or contact:
Annika Thunborg, Chief, Public Information
T +43 1 26030-6375
E annika.thunborg@ctbto.org
M +43 699 1459 6375
I www.ctbto.org
Annika Thunborg, Chief, Public Information
T +43 1 26030-6375
E annika.thunborg@ctbto.org
M +43 699 1459 6375
I www.ctbto.org