Up to now, there is no device that could help in observing the complete ocean at any time in order to detect a tsunami. Therefore, a model needs to be employed as the early warning system’s „eye over the ocean“. By this means it is possible to extrapolate from individual measurements to the whole ocean and the complete coastline.

The subject of modelling in GITEWS is the simulation of a tsunami wave in the Indian Ocean, beginning from the epicentre of the initial earthquake (source modelling), the propagation in the open ocean (ocean modelling) up to it’s arrival at the coasts (run-up modelling). The aim of the studies is to give statements about the endangerment at different coast segments. The calculated scenarios will be used for real time prognoses in the case of an earthquake in Sunda Trench.