What is a meteotsunami, how often do mini-tsunamis strike Menorca and Majorca and what causes them?
A meteotsunami struck the Spanish holiday islands of Menorca and Majorca in the early hours of July 17
A METEOTSUNAMI struck the Spanish holiday islands of Majorca and Menorca on July 17, 2018, causing widespread damage.
But just what is this weather phenomenon and what causes them?
What is a meteotsunami and when do they occur?
Meteotsunamis are freak weather phenomenon that cause large, tsunami-like waves.
They are triggered by disturbances in air pressure caused by fast-moving weather events, like thunderstorms, and are generated when rapid changes in barometric pressure cause the displacement of a body of water.
Most tsunamis are geological, meaning they are triggered by vertical movement on the seabed, which can be caused by an earthquake or landslide.
The difference with a meteotsunami is that they are created by the weather.
A small, rapid change in atmospheric pressure – even by a few millibars – can change the sea surface elevation by a few centimetres.
This elevation can go unnoticed in deep water, but in shallower water near shorelines, it can cause the sea level to rise significantly, often by several feet.
How often do mini-tsunamis hit Majorca and Menorca?
While uncommon, areas like Nagasaki Bay, the eastern Adriatic Sea and the western Mediterranean are particularly susceptible to meteotsunamis, mainly due to the presence of long, narrow bays.
However, it appears that this is the first time that Majorca and Menorca have been struck by such a forceful and high wave.
Can meteotsunamis cause death?
Like any extreme weather phenomenon, a meteotsunami can cause fatalities.
A German dad of two was swept to his death by the waves in Majorca and Menorca just hours after the meteotsunami struck.
A meteotsunami in Nagasaki Bay on March 31, 1979, achieved a maximum wave height of 16 feet killing three people, and a 9.8ft wave that hit the Chicago waterfront in 1954 swept people off piers, drowning seven.
Has the UK ever had a meteotsunami?
Meteotsunamis have also been recorded in the United Kingdom.
The first ever officially identified British meteotsunami hit the Cornish coastline in June 2011.
British researchers first became aware of the meteotsunami after people walking across St Michael’s Mount causeway suddenly found themselves standing in water.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.