What term describes a tsunami-like wave caused by rapid changes in air pressure?
Answer
Meteotsunami
Answer
Meteotsunami
A tsunami-like wave caused by rapid changes in air pressure is called a meteotsunami.
Meteotsunamis are generated by moving atmospheric disturbances rather than by an undersea earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide. Severe thunderstorms, squall lines, storm fronts, and other fast-moving weather systems can produce the abrupt pressure changes that displace water.
The resulting waves may be amplified when the disturbance travels at a speed that interacts efficiently with shallow-water waves. Continental shelves, bays, harbours, and inlets can further increase the wave height near shore. Meteotsunamis have been observed in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Great Lakes, and other coastal regions.
They are often confused with storm surge, seiches, or ordinary tsunamis. A storm surge is a broad rise in water level driven mainly by wind and pressure, while a seiche is a standing oscillation in an enclosed or partly enclosed basin. Meteotsunamis are progressive waves in the tsunami-frequency range.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026