Seismic reconstruction of meteotsunami wave heights using coastal seismic stations: an application in the Port of Hamina, Gulf of Finland

Meteotsunamis are complex phenomena that generate long-period marine waves with period range similar to seismic tsunamis, but with a meteorological origin. These events significantly impact coastlines worldwide. Despite their growing recognition as natural hazards, monitoring capabilities remain limited due to detection challenges and the lack of efficient warning systems. This study explores the effectiveness of utilizing seismic stations located near the coast to reconstruct the wave height of a meteotsunami that impacted the Gulf of Finland on 22nd February 2015 near the Hamina tide gauge. We apply a seismic analysis technique described by Okal (Okal E.A. (2021)). On the possibility of seismic recording of meteotsunamis. Nat Hazards 106, 1125–1147 (2021). 10.1007/s11069-020-04146-x) and compare the information gained through seismic signals with oceanographic and atmospheric data previously analysed in other studies. By integrating seismic and marine data, this research verifies the validity of seismic signals for meteotsunami detection and contributes to enhancing monitoring and warning techniques. Our findings demonstrate the reliability of Okal’s method for utilizing seismic stations near the coasts and show how seismic data can provide supplementary information to traditional oceanographic and atmospheric measurements, offering a more comprehensive understanding of meteotsunami dynamics and improving the reliability of early warning systems.