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Following the January 15 Tsunami Emergency resulting from the eruption of the Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha'apai Volcano, and within the framework of activities of the Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation in the Southeast Pacific Region (WG-SEP), the training workshop was organized with the support of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ).

The "Shared Access to Data on Continuous Observation of Sea Levels: Tool for Effective Regional Response to Tsunami Emergencies” workshop took place at the offices of The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) of the Chilean Navy between 27 and 30 September 2022. It brought together representatives from the National Tsunami Warning Centers of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Expert presentations were also made by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), VLIZ, the IOC-UNESCO and SHOA.

The primary objective of the workshop was to enhance capabilities of WG-SEP Member States for tsunami warning and mitigation through sharing of data in real time from regional sea level stations.

According to Francisco Hernández, one of the speakers from VLIZ, the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai tsunami event highlighted the importance of tide gauges in tsunami warning and the need to include this technology in the global ocean observation network, thus increasing the number of instruments that can report significant variations in sea level. This will be an important milestone to ensure the safety of coastal populations.

Mr Hernández also emphasized the importance of holding workshops to identify and understand the specific needs and consideration of each country, and thus to support effective cooperation and data sharing. This will also provide decision makers with needed information to address emergency events.

Lieutenant Commander Lorena Marquez, Head of the Peruvian National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC), noted the workshop was an opportunity for countries of the region to share experiences and information useful to the continued improvement of their respective tsunami warning services.

"The opportunity to get to know the heads of other tsunami warning centers not only contributes to developing camaraderie, but also facilitates the transition of data in a smoother manner" - stated Lieutenant Commander Marquez.

During the closing ceremony, Commodore Arturo Oxley Lizana, Director of SHOA and Chairperson of the workshop, highlighted the relevance of cooperation to face the threat of tsunamis in the Pacific basin, noting that the workshop had been successful in strengthening this cooperation. Indeed, through the workshop, representatives from the regional NTWCs agreed that 15 additional sea level stations located in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile will share their data with the IOC Sea Level Monitoring Facility, thus providing additional information to decision-makers across the region.

As a result, NTWCs in the region will be able to monitor sea level stations of other countries in the event of a tsunami in the Pacific Ocean basin. They will also be able to share their own data, thereby enhancing international cooperation on tsunami within the framework of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/PTWS).