Observing meteotsunamis (Marrobbio) on the southwestern coast of Sicily

The paper presents sea level and air pressure observations acquired during the 2007 experiment carried out along the southwestern coast of Sicily. The experiment aimed to quantify the atmospheric and oceanic conditions related with the phenomenon ofmarrobbio, a kind of meteotsunami that is frequently observed in the Strait of Sicily. Sea level data measured at surrounding tide gauges, radio-sounding atmospheric profiles and ERA5 reanalysis data conjoined the analysis. Rapid air pressure and sea level oscillations were measured simultaneously during marrobbio events, while the atmospheric disturbances were estimated to propagate mostly towards east-northeast with a predominant speed of 19-24 m/s. The observed propagation direction and speed were found conducive for generation of long ocean waves through Proudman resonance over a wide outer shelf, although a complex bathymetry in front of affected area may strongly modify the generation. The atmospheric patterns were favourable for wave ducting mechanism during most of the observed marrobbio events. A need for establishing long-term high-frequency observations at marrobbio hot spots, as well to apply high-resolution atmospheric and oceanic models for proper quantification of meteotsunamis, is emphasized.

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The paper presents observations from a 2007 experiment along the southwestern coast of Sicily, focusing on the phenomenon of marrobbio, a type of meteotsunami commonly seen in the Strait of Sicily. The study found rapid air pressure and sea level oscillations during marrobbio events, with atmospheric disturbances propagating mostly towards east-northeast at speeds of 19-24 m/s. The atmospheric patterns were conducive for wave ducting mechanisms during most marrobbio events, highlighting the need for long-term high-frequency observations and high-resolution models to quantify meteotsunamis accurately.