National Center for Ocean Hazard
Introduction
The coastal areas of the Persian Gulf, the Oman Sea, the Caspian Sea, and even the inland lakes are of strategic importance for the Islamic Republic of Iran from different points of view. A significant part of oil and gas extraction and their transmission lines are concentrated in coastal and marine areas. About a quarter of the country's population lives in the coastal areas, the main way of transporting goods passes through the seas. A large part of the aquatic consumption of the country is caught from the coastal and marine areas, and at the same time, the beaches are the resorts of Iranian citizens. But the history of terrible events in the marine and coastal environments should draw our attention to the economic, social and even security risks caused by them. Our country, having long seacoasts and lakes, is affected by the dangers of these environments. Tsunamis, rip currents, storm surges, high waves, fluctuating water levels, moving oil slicks, and algal blooms are common marine hazards.
The history of these terrible events in the marine and coastal environments shows that it is very necessary to pay attention to the economic, social and even security risks caused by them. In addition, the maritime activities of the country have developed significantly in the last decade and many economic activities have been concentrated in the coastal strip in the north and south.
The experience of destructive natural events in marine environments in the world as well as in the surrounding seas of the country requires the development of an integrated system of forecasting and warning of marine hazards in the country.
The necessity of forecasting and warning of marine hazards
Forecasting and warning of marine hazards is the least expensive way to deal with marine hazards. Marine hazards include a wide range of physical and biological hazards.
In addition to reducing human, economic and social costs, the forecasting and warning of marine hazards determines the direction of development programs in coastal, marine and even inland areas. Therefore, the forecasting and warning of marine hazards plays a key role in development programs. Recognizing marine hazards and providing advance knowledge of them requires the presence and cooperation of a wide range of experts in ocean-atmospheric science and technology.
Marine physics, marine biology, modeling of marine phenomena, coastal engineering, ocean engineering, satellite oceanography, marine data management, marine geology, marine chemistry, and marine geophysics are the main specialties for providing marine hazard forecasting and warning.
National Center for Forecasting and Warning of Marine Hazards
The National Research Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences, after the initial investigations regarding marine hazards in the surrounding seas of the country and the human, economic and social importance of marine hazards, decided to make the forecasting and warning of marine hazards one of its main research axes.
This research axis was approved in the form of a strategic plan in 2008 by the board of trustees of the research institute and was notified by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology through letter 89/15/70336. With the expansion of the research institute regarding the main marine hazards in the surrounding seas of the country, including sea climate change, tsunami, rip current, wave, movement of oil slick and biological hazards, the necessity of integrating studies and designing a marine hazard warning system became more apparent. Therefore, the National Research Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences proposed the establishment of the "National Center for Forecasting and Warning of Marine Hazards" to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. This center has a close cooperation with the crisis management organization for timely notification of risks and reducing the resulting damages.
Missions
The National Center for forecasting and Warning of Marine Hazards is a research institution that will respond to the national needs in the field of marine hazards by integrating its high-quality programs in the field of research, education and social services. The mission of this center in the field of marine and oceanic studies related to serious and dangerous phenomena is to predict and warn them timely.
The main goals of the Marine Risk forecasting and Warning Center
Basic and applied studies in the territory of the surrounding oceans and seas in order to understand and predict their serious and dangerous behavior.
forecasting and warning of marine hazards with the approach of reducing their harmful human, economic and environmental effects.
Providing services to society and expanding general and specialized training and increasing interaction with institutions and organizations in the national arena and, if necessary, in the international arena.
Programs
In order to achieve the goals, set in the National Center for Forecasting and Warning of Marine Hazards, various programs have been developed, and with the completion of their first phase, an integrated system for forecasting and warning of marine hazards will be launched. This system will be responsible for forecasting and timely warning about the main marine hazards. The main programs of the National Center for Forecasting and Warning of Sea Hazards are as follows:
Measurement, modeling and rip current Risk Zoning
Tsunami Modeling in the Oman Sea and Caspian Sea and Flood Risk Zoning
Measurement, Remote Monitoring and Modeling of Biohazards
Measuring, modeling and forecasting the movement of pollution spots
Measurement, modeling and forecasting of waves and surges
Providing general and specialized training and developing a public information system in order to increase the national capability in dealing with maritime accidents.
Setting up an integrated system for forecasting and warning marine hazards
Investigating the Possibility of Other Disasters Occurring with Regard to Changing Marine Environmental Conditions and Their Predictability and Warning