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"Marrobbio" (tsunami-like event) of 25 June 2014 at the southwestern coast of Sicily

The tsunami-like waves of atmospheric origin affected the Mediterranean and Black Sea region on 23-27 June 2014. Probably the strongest waves were observed on the southwestern coast of Sicily. Intense atmospherically-induced waves regularly occur in this region ; locally the phenomenon is know as “marrobbio” (“marrubbio”). These waves impacted the coast of Sicily between 18:00 and 20:00 UTC on June 25, 2014. Event was strongest in Mazara del Vallo, where destructive sea wave propagated into the Mazara River inlet as 1.5 m high hydraulic jump (bore), damaging a number of moored vessels. Moreover, a 30 m retreat of ocean, followed by wave activity which rolled out a large amount of sea grass Poseidonia Oceanica, was noticed at a nearby Tonnarella beach, and significant sea level oscillations of 1.5 m height were observed at Trapani. Tide gauge stations recorded sea level oscillations as well: maximum recorded wave heights ranged from 5 cm at Sciacca up to 35 cm at Lampedusa and Porto Empedocle. Pronounced high-frequency air-pressure oscillations propagated through the atmosphere just at the time of tsunami-like event. Atmospheric disturbances propagated northward from the African towards Sicilian coast with a speed of ~22 m/s. Coincidence of air pressure and sea level oscillations, as well as direction and speed of atmospheric disturbances indicate that this event was a meteorological tsunami. Tsunami-like waves were first generated and resonantly enhanced via Proudman resonance mechanism over the western part of shelf between Africa and Sicily and then additionally amplified at areas with large topographic amplification factor, such as Mazara del Vallo.

meteotsunamis; Sicily

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