The term “meteotsunami” is a technical term sometimes used to describe long ocean waves generated by meteorological disturbances such as storm surges, oscillations of a basin's water surface (seiches) driven by winds or sudden variations in atmospheric pressure. It differs from tsunamis generated by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or landslides.
This highly technical report serves as an initial investigation into the status of “meteotsunamis” observation, forecast and warning capabilities by leading experts from the IOC Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG) and the World Meteorological Organization. It is not a fully comprehensive review, however it provides a starting point for further consideration.
The report recommends that:
UN agencies, first and foremost WMO, which does not recognize the term “meteotsunami”, first agree on a common vocabulary; and
The possibilities of associating new generations of tsunami detection and measurement networks with numerical weather prediction models as part of a global monitoring and warning network continue to be evaluated (the numerical weather prediction models currently operational worldwide are not and will not be capable of resolving adequate pressure disturbances for the generation of “meteotsunamis” within the resources currently available).
The group believes that the responsibility for issuing public warnings based on "meteotsunami" threats lies entirely with the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), under WMO guidance.
The Joint WMO-IOC Coordinating Board will provide further guidance on this issue.