Scientists studying suspected Lake Superior meteotsunami that left residents ‘in awe’
Over the weekend, residents of Shuniah, Ont., including Alan Auld, witnessed a rare and powerful event on Lake Superior. Auld described the waters receding as if someone had pulled the plug, causing awe among onlookers. Located on the northern shoreline of Lake Superior, Shuniah experienced massive fluctuations in water levels that caught the attention of scientists.
Experts believe that the area may have experienced a meteotsunami, a type of tsunami wave caused by fast-moving weather conditions such as thunderstorms. Eric Anderson, an associate professor at the Colorado School of Mines, explained that meteotsunamis are generated by a significant change in air pressure and high wind speeds.
The event on Saturday, which saw water levels fluctuating by tens of centimeters to a meter, was unusual for Lake Superior. While Auld and others initially thought it was a seiche, a standing wave that oscillates like water sloshing back and forth, Anderson confirmed that it was more consistent with a meteotsunami.
Meteotsunamis are propagating waves that move through the water, with a much quicker timeframe compared to seiches. Anderson noted that such events occur only a couple of times a decade at most on Lake Superior and can pose dangers such as drownings if precautions are not taken.
Chin Wu, a professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about meteotsunamis due to their potential dangers. Wu warned against being on beaches and shorelines during rapid water level fluctuations, as people can be swept away by the changing tides.
Researchers are working to develop forecasting methods for meteotsunamis to ensure that communities can be warned ahead of time, similar to how tornado warnings are issued. The recent event on Lake Superior serves as a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of understanding and preparing for such phenomena.
