PML in the media: PhD researcher Clare Lewis to feature on Channel 5 documentary ‘Britain's Killer Wave of 1607’ 

Image: Large waves at Porthcawl, South Wales, December 2017. 

What are Meteotsunamis? 

Meteotsunamis are large waves that can reach heights of 6 feet or more. They are caused by rapid changes in air pressure, which can be associated with fast-moving weather events like thunderstorms, squalls, and other storm fronts. 

She describes her involvement in the documentary, set to broadcast at 9pm on Monday 25th November on Channel 5: 

“The documentary is about an event that happened in 1607 in the Bristol Channel. A series of large waves unexpectedly came in and flooded the Welsh coastline and the Somerset Downs, killing 2000 people.” 

“Due to a lack of quantitative data, there was no solid explanation for its occurrence, only theories. The documentary explores the different theories as to what caused the event by asking experts for their views.” 

“Amongst the theories there were tsunami, storm surge, and meteotsunami, and I represented the meteotsunami camp, since my PhD is based on meteotsunami in the UK. My research has yielded an updated database of events since 1750, highlighted hotspot areas, initiating weather systems and impacts.” 

“I’ve also created an intensity scale; similar to that used in tsunami studies, but for quantifying meteotsunami not only in the UK, but for global use.” 

“For the documentary, I was asked to talk about what a meteotsunami is, do we get them in the UK and why, also why it may have been a meteotsunami that caused the 1607 event, and could it happen today if so, what would be the impacts.” 

Britain’s Killer Wave of 1607 is set to broadcast on Monday 25th November at 9pm, on Channel 5. 

Find out more about Clare Lewis and her work here >>