Ocean forecasting system unveiled:

Ocean forecasting system unveiled:

Context

• The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences here inaugurated the Ocean Forecasting System for Comoros, Madagascar, and Mozambique at the third Ministerial Meeting of Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning.

Why is it required?

• The ocean forecast and early warning information on high wave, currents, winds, tides, sub-surface ocean conditions cater to users like fishermen, coastal population, tourism sector, coastal defence officials, marine police, port authorities, research institutions and offshore industries of these countries.

Launch of the new system

• M. Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Chair, RIMES Council, launched the system for operational use.
• The INCOIS has already been providing these operational services to the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Seychelles.
• The Ministerial council and the WMO praised and placed on record the initiatives of INCOIS/India in providing the ocean forecast and early warning services to the Indian Ocean U

Utility

• These ocean services are aimed towards safety at the sea.
• The system would offer oil spill advisory services, high wave alerts, port warnings, forecast along the ship routes in addition to tsunami and storm surge warnings and help in search and rescue operations.
• The Ocean Forecast System developed for the Indian Ocean countries and the real-time data from their territories also help to improve the ocean forecast and early warning system for the Indian coast too.
• Wave surge ( kallkadal ) and coastal flooding that occurred from July 28 to August 3 in 2016 along Kerala and West Bengal were well predicted and real-time data from Seychelles were highly beneficial for predicting these incidents, as many of these remotely forced waves originated from the southern and western Indian Ocean.
• It helps in navigation and operations at sea and the blue economic growth of many of these Indian Ocean rim countries and island nations.