To strengthen tsunami monitoring, Andaman and Nicobar to get regional service centre, Pg2

Key Highlights:

• India plans to establish a Regional Service Centre (RSC) in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to enhance tsunami monitoring.
• The ₹300-crore project aims to detect tsunamis triggered by both seismic and non-seismic events.
• The RSC will be located at Vijaynagar along the Swaraj Dweep and will offer services to countries bordering the Indian Ocean, including Sri Lanka.
• A 270-km sub-sea cable will be laid along the subduction zone to improve data collection and address data gaps.

Detailed Insights:

• The current tsunami warning system primarily detects tsunamis caused by undersea earthquakes, which account for 80% of tsunamis globally.
• The upgraded system will monitor acoustic signals and address vulnerabilities on India's west coast due to fragile marine geology and underwater mud volcanoes along the Makran coast.
• The sub-sea cable will enhance monitoring capabilities compared to existing methods that rely on tidal gauges, surface buoys, and satellite data, which are prone to theft, vandalism, and insufficiency.
• The Barren Islands volcano, India's only known volcano, poses a potential tsunami threat, particularly to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, necessitating increased investment in the region.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Subduction Zone: An area where two tectonic plates converge, with one plate forced beneath the other, often causing earthquakes and volcanic activity.
• Tsunami: A series of ocean waves caused by large-scale disturbances, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.
• Acoustic Signals: Sound waves used to detect and monitor underwater events, such as earthquakes, more rapidly than traditional methods.