New Delhi: Eminent oceanographer and scientist Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala has assumed charge as the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the ministry said on Monday. Dr Tummala succeeds Dr N. Kalaiselvi, who was holding additional charge of the ministry. He also played a key role in establishing India's Tsunami Early Warning System following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. His contributions have earned him the National Geoscience Award in 2010 and the Indian National Geospatial Award in 2008. Dr Tummala has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications and served as Vice-Chair of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Coordination Group.