Real-Time Capability of Megathrust Tsunami Detection by WERA Ocean Radar System

Radar technology has been proven to be able to capture trans-oceanic tsunami signatures. With this advancement, an ocean radar system has been set up for real-time tsunami monitoring along the Sunda Strait, extended from the Tanjung Lesung Observation Station (TOS), Tanjung Lesung, Banten province, to Kahai Observation Station (KOS), Kahai, Lampung province, Indonesia. The 6.7 MW earthquake occurred at 09.05 UTC and generated small tsunami waves minutes after and activated the alert mode of InaTOC SUN buoy. The anomalies on the water surface generated by the earthquake were detected by the radar in a form of strong changes in measured combined currents at distances of 30 km West of the Tanjung Lesung observation station. The radar systems are able to track the very strong current pattern in real-time following the wave propagation toward the coastlines. The real-time detection on strong current has shown potential application of ocean radar technology for offshore monitoring and navigation safety.