Analysis of small-scale atmospheric pressure jumps related to the generation of abnormal extreme waves at Boryeong

Abstract

On May 4, 2008, extremely long waves suddenly appeared from a relatively calm sea and swept dozens of people off the breakwater only at Boryeong. In order to decipher how the generation mechanisms of these waves were so localized, waves and water level data were analyzed together with meteorological data from different sources. Atmospheric pressure jumps were detected from surface atmospheric pressure data provided by the KMA's coastal and in-land AWS stations. These data were also detected from analysis of KMA's weather radar images which are sampled every 10 minutes. Destructive long waves observed at Boryeong may be related to a combination of factors. Small-scale atmospheric pressure jumps moving together with long waves over the Yellow Sea are considered at least partially responsible for generation of the destructive long waves at Boryeong, together with other possible amplification sources such as depth and geometric configuration.