Statistical Analysis of Jason-1 Sea Surface Height and Backscattering during Sumatra-adaman Tsunami

The existing tsunami warning system is based primarily on registration of underwater earthquake events. Unfortunately this approach has intrinsic drawbacks: the relationship between quake force and tsunami intensity/propagation is complicated and not clear. Another approach relies on direct measurement of tsunami wave height by detection of pressure change near the bottom. Such a buoy network is expensive and provides sparse data. Observation of sea surface roughness variations caused by tsunami waves would provide important information complimentary to the traditional methods.