Meteotsunamis in the Tamsui River estuary, Taiwan

Abstract

This study presents meteotsunami evolution and statistics in the Tamsui River estuarine system from 12 years observations. In the tide-dominated estuary, a strong correlation is observed between high tidal levels and the upstream propagation of meteotsunami waves. Such long waves travel the Tamsui River at an average speed of 6 m/s, while their speed slightly decreases to 4 m/s in the upstream rivers. The propagation changes are likely due to the contraction channel and shallow depth of the upstream rivers. During the upstream propagation, low-frequency waves (an average period of 44.5 min) have the significantly low reduction of wave height compared to high-frequency waves (an average period of 21.5 min). Findings suggest that low-frequency waves are capable of propagating over longer distances within the river estuary than high-frequency waves. In terms of long-term statistical analysis in 2014–2020, meteotsunamis predominantly occur in late winter and early spring. These events are primarily triggered by cluster and frontal convective storms, which are predominant atmospheric forcings responsible for initiating meteotsunami waves. These convective storms are often associated with incoming cold surges or cold fronts crossing the Taiwan Strait, which has implications on the role of pressure and wind disturbances, as well as the resonance mechanism in meteotsunami initiation. Furthermore, the study assesses the probability of meteotsunami occurrences, revealing that an annual prediction of wave height can reach up to 0.3 m. This finding raises concerns regarding potential hazards in Taipei City, where the population exceeds 6.8 million people. Of particular concern is the vulnerability of the Keelung River, which flows through the city center. In summary, the potential hazards posed by meteotsunamis in the Tamsui River estuary underscore the importance of risk management and preparedness measures.