This online, self-paced course is the first of a series of tsunami courses organized by the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Resilience Section and its Tsunami Information Centres. Tsunami Awareness provides a basic understanding of the tsunami phenomenon, tsunami hazards and risks, tsunami warning systems, and tsunami preparedness. Tsunami Awareness is a pre-requisite for enrolling in later UNESCO-IOC tsunami courses.

Learning outcomes

The purpose of this course is to create awareness on tsunamis. By the end of the training, you should be able to:

• Describe the tsunami phenomena, and the causes and impacts of tsunamis.
• Understand what a tsunami warning system is, how tsunami warning centres work, and what products they issue.
• Explain the different preparedness actions that communities can take to be ready for the next tsunami
• Identify the natural tsunami warning signs and response actions for a local tsunami

Course content

The course is divided into the following lessons:

• Lesson 1. Tsunami Basics. The goal of this lesson is to introduce basic tsunami science, including the hazards produced by tsunamis, the causes and generation mechanisms of tsunamis, the propagation of tsunamis, and the ways tsunamis manifest themselves near or at the shore.
• Lesson 2. Tsunami Warning Systems. The goal of this lesson is to provide an overview of an end-to-end tsunami warning system with a focus on the operational components of a tsunami warning system, the processes involved in detecting and warning for a tsunami, and the products issued by a tsunami warning centre.
• Lesson 3. Tsunami Preparedness. The goal of this lesson is to highlight the importance of preparedness, with a focus on community response strategies that will effectively reduce tsunami risk.
• Resources.  Tsunami Glossary. The UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Glossary (2019) includes the definitions of tsunami-related technical terms, and information on the global intergovernmental coordination groups for tsunami warning and mitigation.

Target audience

The audience for this course includes Government decision-makers and Community leaders, Emergency management officials, Response personnel, such as Police, Fire, and First Responders, Coastal Zone managers and planners, School principals and staff, Public and Private sector, including Tourism sector, non-government organizations, Media, General Public.

Proficiency in the following is required:

• The ability to be self-directed in learning new technology skills (e.g. following a step-by-step tutorial, online video help, or access to support to learn necessary skills)
• Basic computer skills
• Finding resources through search engines

Language of instruction

English

Certificate

This is a self-paced course that includes presentations and quizzes designed to help learners assess their own learning at regular intervals. In order to successfully complete the course and receive a certificate of completion, the following is mandatory:

• Complete all modules/topics in sequence. You cannot proceed to the next lesson or activity before completing the preceding lesson.
• Complete the Post Test and receive a pass grade 70%. The Post Test should take up to about 1 hour and 3 attempts are allowed.

A Tsunami Awareness certificate is a pre-requisite for all later UNESCO-IOC Tsunami courses.

Technology requirements

To complete this course, participants should have access to:

• Computer with Windows or Mac operating system
• Latest version of either Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari web browsers

Pre-requisites 

No

Course duration and format

The course will be available online continuously, starting from 2024 with year cohorts. The estimated time to complete the self-paced course is approximately 6 hours.

How to enrol

Please register on the OceanExpert website (www.oceanexpert.org). Once your OceanExpert account is approved (this is not done immediately), you can self-enrol in the course. If you already have an OceanExpert account, you can self-enrol in the course using your OceanExpert username and password. Enrolment for this cohort is available until 31 December 2026.

• Step 1. Log in OceanTeacher, then access the course page https://classroom.oceanteacher.org/course/view.php?id=707
• Step 2. Click on self-enrolment. The enrolment key for the course is: Aware2026

The self-paced course for 2026 cohort will be open until 31 December 2026 (23:59 CEST: Central European Time).

UNESCO is committed to promoting equal access principles. Applications from minority or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged. For any questions please contact the OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org) always using the name of the course as the email subject.

Contacts

• OTGA Secretariat: ioc.training@unesco.org

For any questions please contact the OTGA Secretariat always using the name of the course as the email subject.

Costs: There are no tuition fees. 

Feedback survey

At the end of the course, you will be asked to fill out a feedback survey. This information will be used to improve future courses.  Note: submitting the course feedback survey is mandatory to obtain the course certificate.

Cancellation policy

In the event of cancellation of the course by the OTGA or its affiliates, we will provide notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date. In the event of cancellation by the attendee, we should receive notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date.