Extreme sea levels at Rapa Nui (Easter Island) during intense atmospheric rivers

In addition to the tsunami hazard posed by distant great earthquakes, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), in Southeast Pacific Ocean, is exposed frequent and intense coastal storms. Here, we use sea-level records field surveys guided video photographic footage show that extreme sea levels at occur much more than previously thought thus constitute an unrecognized inland’s maritime supply chain. We found events, including two most (March 5th May 5th, 2020) our 17-month-long analyzed period (from January 1st, 2019, 31st, 2020), resulted from constructive superpositions of seiches on shelf, storm surges high tides. By further analyzing time series atmospheric wind-generated wave data, conclude these are ultimately driven breaking large waves near coastline (i.e., setup), with lesser contribution barometric setup even less wind setup. also propose were mainly generated strong, long-lasting, NW winds associated rivers (long, narrow regions atmosphere transport abundant water vapor) passing over Nui. Given intensity level increase as climate changes, a deeper understanding relation between meteorological oceanographic processes strongly needed.