The exercise, known as PacWave11, is scheduled for 9-10 November 2011, and will be carried out in two phases. In its first phase, countries engaged in the test will choose one of 10 available scenarios, either a region- or local-source tsunami based on earthquake events, to which they would have to react. The 10 scenarios available are: Kamchatka (Kuril-Kamchatka Trench); Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-Shoto Trench); Philippines – South China Sea (Manila Trench); Philippines – Pacific Ocean (Philippines Trench); Vanuatu (New Hebrides Trench); Tonga (Tonga Trench); Central Chile (Peru-Chile Trench); Ecuador (Colombia – Ecuador Trench); Central America (Middle America Trench); and Aleutian Islands (Aleutian Trench).

In the second phase, which will be carried out simultaneously after receipt of warning messages, the authorities will test all the necessary steps to respond to a warning prior to alerting the public. Simulated warnings will be sent out to national focal points by the Northwest Pacific Tsunami Advisory Centre (Japan), the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (US) and the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (US).

The IOC set up the International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific in 1965. The purpose of the Group is to coordinate the development and enhancement of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Systems and to promote the establishment of national risk assessments, alert and response programmes. [UN Press Release] [Pacific Wave 11 Exercise Manual] [Pacific Wave 11 Website] [UNESCO Press Release]