OBSERVATIONS BY SATELLITE ALTIMETRY OF SHORT SURFACE WAVE ENERGY IN THE DECEMBER 2004 SUMATRA TSUNAMI

The main tsunami wave triggered by the December 2004 Sumatra tsunami was detected in the ocean south of India by satellite altimeters on Jason, Topex/Poseidon and Envisat. All three altimeters also detected shorter-wavelength (10 to 100 km), slower-propagating surface waves, spreading from the site of the earthquake. The shorter waves give additional information about the tsunami event, and can be used to better define the generating region in this, and future tsunamis. The properties of the area of shorter tsunami-generated waves may also be important in designing a future satellite-based detection system.