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The identification of weather conditions associated with the generation of major storm surges along the west coast of the British Isles
Author(s) -
Sutcliffe R. C.,
Len G. W.,
Sutcliffe R. C.,
Sutcliffe R. C.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49708938110
Subject(s) - storm surge , flood myth , channel (broadcasting) , surge , identification (biology) , climatology , storm , warning system , oceanography , bay , west coast , environmental science , meteorology , geography , geology , telecommunications , computer science , botany , archaeology , biology
The complex mechanism of storm surge generation in the Eastern Atlantic has introduced severe difficulties in attempts to establish the basis of a flood‐warning system for the west coast of the British Isles. As an interim measure, while coastal defences are being assessed in the light of the estimated probability of abnormal levels (Lennon 1963) and while research proceeds so that any consequent contingency may eventually be met, a qualitative technique has been devised which aims at an identification of weather situations which are potentially dangerous particularly for the British Channel area and for Liverpool Bay. Major surges are found to be generated as a result of the passage, over the sea approaches to the region, of a certain type of depression which, moving at a critical speed over shallow water, can establish conditions of near‐resonance. The relevant meteorological conditions are found to be remarkably uniform and capable of definition.