Satellite Image Shows Tsunami Triggered by Massive Russian Earthquake

Newsweek

2 days ago

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The 8.8 Kamchatka earthquake in Russia has prompted a collaborative scientific effort to improve tsunami warning systems.
The massive earthquake off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30 triggered a tsunami that was successfully measured by a joint U.S.–French satellite, a technological first that is already being used to improve early warning systems
The event, which occurred amidst a series of powerful aftershocks, is helping scientists at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to validate and enhance their tsunami forecast models.
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, a collaborative effort between NASA and the French space agency CNES, captured the leading edge of the tsunami approximately 70 minutes after the initial 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck.
According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the satellite recorded a wave height exceeding 1.5 feet in the open Pacific Ocean, east of Japan.
While a wave of that size might seem small, oceanographer Ben Hamlington of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory emphasized the potential danger: "What might only be a foot or two in the open ocean can become a 30-foot wave in shallower water at the coast."
Satellite map of the tsunami's leading edge (red), with the epicenter depicted by a red star.
Satellite map of the tsunami's leading edge (red), with the epicenter depicted by a red star.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA's visualization showed the wave's height, shape and direction of travel—offering a multidimensional look at the tsunami.
The data captured by the satellite is a crucial breakthrough for disaster prediction.
"The power of SWOT's broad, paintbrush-like strokes over the ocean is in providing crucial real-world validation, unlocking new physics and marking a leap towards more accurate early warnings and safer futures," said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, NASA Earth lead and SWOT program scientist.
Aftershocks in the Region
The 8.8 magnitude quake, which struck at a depth of about 12 miles, has been followed by a series of powerful aftershocks. As Newsweek previously reported, dozens of aftershocks were recorded in the days following the initial event.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warned that the likelihood of additional magnitude seven or larger earthquakes remains high.
A magnitude seven earthquake on Sunday near the peninsula triggered short-lived tsunami warnings for three Russian coastal areas. Newsweek's report on Wednesday noted that a recent 5.8 magnitude tremor had also struck the region.
A visualization of the tsunami's leading edge.
A visualization of the tsunami's leading edge.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Improving Tsunami Forecasts
The primary purpose of the SWOT data is to help improve the accuracy of forecast models, a long-sought-after ambition. The NOAA Center for Tsunami Research, which sends out alerts to coastal communities, tested its model with SWOT's tsunami data.
The results were exciting, according to Vasily Titov, the center's chief scientist. He said that the results suggest that "SWOT data could significantly enhance operational tsunami forecasts—a capability sought since the 2004 Sumatra event."
The devastating 2004 Sumatra quake killed thousands, highlighting the critical need for more advanced and accurate early warning systems.
The ability of the SWOT satellite to capture and measure resulting tsunamis is a leap forward in protecting coastal communities around the world from future seismic events.
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