TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Recent observations of meteotsunamis on the Finnish coast
JO  - Natural hazards
A1  - Pellikka, Hilkka
A1  - Rauhala, Jenni
A1  - Kahma, Kimmo K.
A1  - Stipa, Tapani
A1  - Boman, Hanna
A1  - Kangas, Antti
SP  - 197
EP  - 215
VL  - 74
IS  - 1
N2  - We present four case studies of exceptional wave events of meteorological origin, observed on the Finnish coast in the summers of 2010 and 2011. Eyewitnesses report unusually rapid and strong sea-level variations (up to 1 m in 5-15 min) and strong oscillating currents during these events. High-resolution sea-level measurements confirm the eyewitness observations, but the oscillations recorded by tide gauges mostly have a considerably smaller amplitude. The oscillations coincide with sudden jumps in surface air pressure at coastal observation stations, related to the passage of squall lines or gust fronts. These fronts propagate above the sea at a resonant speed, allowing efficient energy transfer between the atmospheric disturbance and the sea wave that it generates. Thus, we interpret the observed sea-level oscillations as small meteotsunamis, long tsunami-like waves generated by meteorological processes and resonance effects.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0921-030X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-014-1150-3
ID  - ref1
ER  -