Meteotsunami
A meteotsunami or meteorological tsunami is a tsunami-like sea wave of meteorological origin. Meteotsunamis are generated when rapid changes in barometric pressure cause the displacement of a body of water. In contrast to "ordinary" impulse-type tsunami sources, a traveling atmospheric disturbance normally interacts with the ocean over a limited period of time. Tsunamis and meteotsunamis are otherwise similar enough that it can be difficult to distinguish one from the other, as in cases where there is a tsunami wave but there are no seismic records of an earthquake. Meteotsunamis, rather, are triggered due to extreme weather events including severe thunderstorms, squalls and storm fronts; all of which can quickly change atmospheric pressure. Meteotsuamis typically occur when severe weather is moving at the same speed and direction of the local wave action towards the coastline. The size of the wave is enhanced by coastal features such as shallow continental shelves, bays and inlets.
Only about 3% of historical tsunami events are known to have meteorological origins, although their true prevalence may be considerably higher than this because 10% of historical tsunamis have unknown origins, tsunami events in the past are often difficult to validate, and meteotsunamis may have previously been misclassified as seiche waves. Seiches are classified as a long-standing wave with longer periods and slower changes in water levels. They are also restricted to enclosed or partially enclosed basins.
Characteristics
Meteotsunamis are restricted to local effects because they lack the energy available to significant seismic tsunami. However, when they are amplified by resonance they can be hazardous. Meteotsunami events can last anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. Their size, length and period is heavily dependent on the speed and severity of the storm front. They are progressive waves which can affect enclosed basins and also large areas of coastline. These events have produced waves over six feet in height and can resemble storm surge flooding.Frequency of events
In April 2019, NOAA determined that 25 meteotsunamis, on average, impact the Eastern Seaboard of the United States every year. In the Great Lakes, even more of these events occur; on average, 126 times a year.In some parts of the world, they are common enough to have local names: rissaga or rissague, ressaca or resarca, milgħuba, marrobbio or marrubio, Seebär, abiki or yota, šćiga. Some bodies of water are more susceptible than others, including anywhere that the natural resonance frequency matches that of the waves, such as in long and narrow bays, particularly where the inlet is aligned with the oncoming wave. Examples of particularly susceptible areas include Nagasaki Bay, the eastern Adriatic Sea, and the Western Mediterranean..
Examples of known events
| Area | Country | Wave height | Fatalities |
| Vela Luka | Croatia | 5.9 | 0 |
| Nagasaki Bay | Japan | 5 | 3 |
| Pohang Harbour | Korea | 0.8 | |
| Kent and Sussex coasts | UK | 3.5–6 | 2 |
| Longkou Harbour | China | 3 | |
| Ciutadella Harbour | Spain | 4 | |
| Gulf of Trieste | Italy | 1.5 | |
| West Sicily | Italy | 1.5 | |
| Malta | Malta | 1 | |
| Chicago | US | 3 | 7 |
| Daytona Beach, FL | US | 3.5 | 0 |
| Ciutadella Harbour & Alcudia | Spain | 1.8 | 0 |
| Barnegat Inlet | US | 0 | |
| Tolchester Beach | US |