Estimation of the rupture length and velocity of the Great Sumatra earthquake of Dec 26, 2004 using hydroacoustic signals

Unprecedented hydroacoustic observations of the megathrust earthquake of 26 Dec, 2004 were afforded by a network of 5 small hydroacoustic arrays located in the Indian Ocean, at distances of 2800 to 7000 km from the epicenter. Each array recorded acoustic waves, called T waves, generated by this event. Analysis of a series of short time windows within the T wave coda shows that the receiver to source azimuth varies smoothly as a function of time, indicating that the apparent T wave source is not stationary. The apparent T wave source moves northward along the Sunda trench at an average velocity of 2 km/s, closely tracking event rupture. The hydroacoustic data suggest that the rupture proceeded in two distinct phases; initially it progressed northwest along the Sunda trench with a velocity of approximately 2.4 km/s. At 600 km from the epicenter the rupture slowed to approximately 1.5 km/s, as it continued to propagate to the northwest.