High-Frequency Sea-Level Extremes: Global Correlations to Synoptic Atmospheric Patterns

Observational Characterization of Atmospheric Disturbances Generating Meteotsunamis in the Balearic Islands

“…In an attempt to correlate the synoptic conditions with the occurrence of meteotsunamis in the Balearic Islands, Šepić et al (2016) created an index that relates different synoptic-scale parameters with the amplitude of SLO observed at Ciutadella. More recently, the quantitative relationship between the synoptic pattern and high-frequency SLOs has been extended worldwide by Zemunik et al (2022). These authors have found marked similarities between the synoptic pattern described for Balearic meteotsunamis and the pattern described in other regions, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea and in the mid latitudes.…”

“…(2016) and Zemunik et al. (2022). The mesoscale structure of atmospheric disturbances had not been addressed up to now because the operational networks did not have the required spatial and temporal resolutions, which are a sampling rate of at least ∼1 min and station separation distances of ∼10 km.…”

“…More recently, the quantitative relationship between the synoptic pattern and high‐frequency SLOs has been extended worldwide by Zemunik et al. (2022). These authors have found marked similarities between the synoptic pattern described for Balearic meteotsunamis and the pattern described in other regions, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea and in the mid latitudes.…”

“…These features are surely important for both, the magnitude of Proudman's amplification and the resonant response of the inlets. This would make that the amplitude of meteotsunami events cannot be inferred from the overall characteristics of the atmospheric perturbations but would rely on smaller scale features, as suggested by Šepić et al (2016) and Zemunik et al (2022). The mesoscale structure of atmospheric disturbances had not been addressed up to now because the operational networks did not have the required spatial and temporal resolutions, which are a sampling rate of at least ∼1 min and station separation distances of ∼10 km.…”

“…These authors have found marked similarities between the synoptic pattern described for Balearic meteotsunamis and the pattern described in other regions, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea and in the mid latitudes. Both studies (Šepić et al., 2016; Zemunik et al., 2022) concluded that the synoptic index is a good indicator of a set of conditions that are necessary but not sufficient to ensure a meteotsunami occurrence, suggesting that mesoscale processes are the actual key to determine whether a meteotsunami will occur or not, and what will be its amplitude.…”