HR: 14:15h
AN: S43C-03 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: The Potential Role of Satellites in Detecting and Tracking Tsunamis
AU: * Allan, T
EM: tom@satobsys.co.uk
AF: Satellite Observing Systems, 15 Church Street, Godalming, Sur GU7 1EL, United Kingdom
AB: Until the morning of December 26 2004 it was not entirely clear if a radar altimeter in polar-orbit around the Earth could detect a low amplitude tsunami wave travelling at high speed across the ocean surface. The answer came when by chance the satellite Jason flew over the Indian Ocean on that fateful morning and recorded a double- peaked wave with peak-to-trough amplitude of 80 cm. A constellation of fit-for-purpose microsatellites, equipped with radar altimeters, had already been proposed as a means of delivering continuous global observations on sea state to ships, platforms and forecasting centres. It will be demonstrated through a computer animation how such a system, working in conjunction with the global network of ground stations for detecting undersea earthquakes, could be instantly switched to pick up and track the progress of a tsunami. Furthermore, all studies carried out to date on the role of ocean currents and eddies in determining the global transport of heat, and its effect on future climate, have concluded that finer spatial resolution is required than that achieved today. It will be shown how this requirement could also be met by a constellation of altimeters. Various schemes for operating such a system will be discussed.
DE: 7215 Earthquake source observations (1240)
SC: Seismology [S]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting