Have you ever heard of storm surges? They are a phenomenon that is still very little known, but that nevertheless can cause serious damage in coastal areas. They are caused by meteorological disturbances that combine with low pressures and winds, caused by the movements of tectonic plates, which cause sea level rises.
It is a very dangerous phenomenon, as they can cause more deaths than earthquakes. In fact, is the cause of 90% of the fatalities left by a hurricane.
Image - Pierre cb
There are several processes that participate in the alteration of the tide: atmospheric pressure, wind, waves, rain and the earth's rotation. The pressure of a cyclone causes the water level to rise in low-pressure regions, and to decrease it in high-pressure regions. To this must be added that in those areas where the waters are shallow the waves will be higher and more powerful.
This in itself is a problem, but according to a study by the Joint Research Center of the European Commission (JRC, for its acronym in English: Joint Research Center), by 2100 in Europe we should be prepared, since they could increase up to 15%.
Global warming seems to be behind, as the sea level will continue to rise, and there will be more and more storms. So it will be necessary take steps to protect coastal areas, especially in those of the North Sea and those of the Baltic Sea, since otherwise the consequences can be fatal.
Storm surges are a phenomenon to which we must pay close attention, since they not only affect countries with a tropical climate, where hurricanes are common, but sooner or later will affect other parts of the world.