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UNESCO and Inmarsat sign agreement to improve tsunami warning system in Indian Ocean

7th January 2008

On 20 December a signing ceremony took place at Inmarsat headquarters in London between Inmarsat and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) for IOC to use the Inmarsat BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) satellite system for transmitting sea level data from stations in the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System. BGAN can get data from the stations to warning centres faster than existing methods and has the potential to save many lives. POL was the first group to develop BGAN for sea level applications some two years ago and has led development efforts since. An official press release from IOC which recognises POL's contribution is available here »

Signing of the BGAN MOU between Inmarsat (represented by the President and Chief Operating Officer, Michael Butler, seated left) and Patrico Bernal (Executive Secretary of IOC, seated right). Behind are (from left) Thorkild Aarup (IOC), Philip Woodworth (POL) and Graeme Gordon (Inmarsat). On the desk is a model of an Inmarsat I-4 satellite and a BGAN receiver.

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Notes

The Proudman Oceanographic (POL) scientific research focuses on oceanography encompassing global sea-levels and geodesy, numerical modelling of continental shelf seas and coastal sediment processes. This research alongside activities of surveying, monitoring, data management and forecasting provides strategic support for the wider mission of the Natural Environment Research Council.

As a public funded body it is part of our remit to inform the public of the science and research undertaken at the laboratory. Attending events like the 'Ocean Awareness Weekend' at the Blue Planet Aquarium offers the opportunity for our scientists to meet members of the public and present the laboratory's work.

The Natural Environment Research Council is one of the UK's eight Research Councils. It uses a budget of about £ 350m a year to fund and carry out impartial scientific research in the sciences of the environment. NERC trains the next generation of independent environmental scientists. It is addressing some of the key questions facing mankind, such as global warming, renewable energy and sustainable economic development.