Combined surge-meteotsunami dynamics: A numerical model for hurricane Leslie on the coast of Portugal

Abstract

In recent years, Portugal's coastal regions have experienced an increase in the frequency and intensity of severe weather events, including tropical cyclones and extratropical storms. This paper presents an analysis of Hurricane Leslie(2018)'s impact on Portugal, with a specific focus on the complex and often underestimated meteotsunami phenomena accompanying the storm system. Our analysis examines data collected from multiple sources, and employs advanced numerical simulations, integrated within the GeoClaw framework. These simulations encompass both storm surge and meteotsunami effects. One of the findings is the significant role played by meteotsunamis in amplifying coastal sea levels during extreme weather events. The observed sea-level fluctuations closely align with the combined surge-meteotsunami simulations, emphasizing the importance of considering these high-frequency phenomena in coastal hazard assessments.