Coastal windstorms create unsteady, unpredictable storm surges in a fluvial Maine estuary

Shore & Beach ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 3-10
Author(s):  
Preston Spicer ◽  
Pascal Matte ◽  
Kimberly Huguenard ◽  
Laura Rickard
Keyword(s):  
Storm Surge ◽  
Interaction Analysis ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Barometric Pressure ◽  
Coastal Flooding ◽  
Tidal Wave ◽  
Atmospheric Forcing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Wave Propagation Speed

Storm surges create coastal flooding that can be damaging to life and property. In estuaries with significant river influence (fluvial), it is possible for tides, storm surge, and river discharge to interact and enhance surges relative to the immediate coast. These tide-surge-river interactions were previously identified in a fluvial Maine estuary as higher frequency (>four cycles per day) oscillations to storm surge which were proposed to be incited by enhanced friction and resonance during certain windstorm events (Spicer et al. 2019). The relative contributions to tide-surge-river interaction from atmospheric forcing variables (wind, barometric pressure, and externally generated surge) remains unclear. This work seeks to decompose and analyze a recent windstorm surge event to better isolate the effects of atmospheric forcing on tidesurge- river interaction. Results show total storm surges in the fluvial estuary to be two times larger than at the estuary mouth because of tide-surge-river interaction. Analysis indicated at least 50% of the magnitude of tide-surge-river interactions are created by non-tidal forcing, in the form of wind, enhancing frictional energy in the estuary. The remaining tide-surge-river interaction is likely a result of changes in tidal wave propagation speed due to surge deepening the mean estuary water level.

What value do mangroves have in reducing the cost of storm surges?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Thomas ◽  
Siddharth Narayan ◽  
Joss Matthewman ◽  
Christine Shepard ◽  
Laura Geselbracht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storm Surge ◽  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Coastal Flooding ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Catastrophe Modelling ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

<p>With coastlines becoming increasingly urbanised worldwide, the economic risk posed by storm surges to coastal communities has never been greater. Given the financial and ecological costs of manmade coastal defences, the past few years have seen growing interest in the effectiveness of natural coastal “defences” in reducing the risk of flooding to coastal properties, but estimating their actual economic value in reducing storm surge risk remains a challenging subject.</p><p>In this study, we estimate the value of mangroves in reducing annual losses to property from storm surges along a large stretch of coastline in Florida (USA), by employing a catastrophe modelling approach widely used in the insurance industry. We use a hydrodynamic coastal flood model coupled to a property loss model and a large property exposure dataset to estimate annual economic losses from hurricane-driven storm surges in Collier County, a hurricane-prone part of Florida. We then estimate the impact that removing mangroves in the region would have on average annual losses (AAL) caused by coastal flooding. We find that mangroves reduce AAL to properties behind them by over 25%, and that these benefits are distributed very heterogeneously along the coastline. Mangrove presence can also act to enhance the storm surge risk in areas where development has occurred seaward of mangroves.</p><p>In addition to looking at annual losses, we also focus on the storm surge caused by a specific severe event in Florida, based on Hurricane Irma (2017), and we estimate that existing mangroves reduced economic property damage by hundreds of millions of USD, and reduced coastal flooding for hundreds of thousands of people.</p><p>Together these studies aim to financially quantify some of the risk reduction services provided by natural defences in terms of reducing the cost of coastal flooding, and show that these services can be included in a catastrophe modelling framework commonly used in the insurance industry.</p>

scholarly journals Coupled wave and surge modelling and implications for coastal flooding

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 19-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Coastal Flooding ◽  
Irish Sea ◽  
Liverpool Bay ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Wave Models ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Mean Circulation

Abstract. The physical causes of coastal flooding due to marine storms are discussed. We examine the costs and impacts of storm surges and waves with reference to the UK. The mechanisms of interaction between waves and the mean circulation due to tides and wind are reviewed. A case study to illustrate the magnitude of surges, waves and their interactions is presented for Liverpool Bay in the eastern Irish Sea. Applications of surge and wave models to the Mediterranean, especially the Adriatic Sea, are considered.

scholarly journals Modeling dependence and coincidence of storm surges and high tide: methodology, discussion and recommendations based on a simplified case study in Le Havre (France)

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 3387-3398
Author(s):  
Amine Ben Daoued ◽  
Yasser Hamdi ◽  
Nassima Mouhous-Voyneau ◽  
Philippe Sergent
Keyword(s):  
Storm Surge ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Coastal Flooding ◽  
Dependence Structure ◽  
Probability Method ◽  
Sea Levels ◽  
Flooding Hazard ◽  
Extreme Sea Levels

Abstract. Coastal facilities such as nuclear power plants (NPPs) have to be designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and must, in particular, be protected against coastal floods because it is the most important source of coastal lowland inundations. Indeed, considering the combination of tide and extreme storm surges (SSs) is a key issue in the evaluation of the risk associated with coastal flooding hazard. Most existing studies are generally based on the assumption that high tides and extreme SSs are independent. While there are several approaches to analyze and characterize coastal flooding hazard with either extreme SSs or sea levels, only few studies propose and compare several approaches combining the tide density with the SS variable. Thus this study aims to develop a method for modeling dependence and coincidence of SSs and high tide. In this work, we have used existing methods for tide and SS combination and tried to improve the results by proposing a new alternative approach while showing the limitations and advantages of each method. Indeed, in order to estimate extreme sea levels, the classic joint probability method (JPM) is used by making use of a convolution between tide and the skew storm surge (SSS). Another statistical indirect analysis using the maximum instantaneous storm surge (MSS) is proposed in this paper as an alternative to the first method with the SSS variable. A direct frequency analysis using the extreme total sea level is also used as a reference method. The question we are trying to answer in this paper is then the coincidence and dependency essential for a combined tide and SS hazard analysis. The results brought to light a bias in the MSS-based procedure compared to the direct statistics on sea levels, and this bias is more important for high return periods. It was also concluded that an appropriate coincidence probability concept, considering the dependence structure between SSs, is needed for a better assessment of the risk using the MSS. The city of Le Havre in France was used as a case study. Overall, the example has shown that the return level (RL) estimates using the MSS variable are quite different from those obtained with the method using the SSSs, with acceptable uncertainty. Furthermore, the shape parameter is negative from all the methods with a much heavier tail when the SSS and the extreme sea levels (ESLs) are used as variables of interest.

scholarly journals Tropical cyclone storm surge probabilities for the east coast of the United States: A cyclone-based perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Towey ◽  
James F. Booth ◽  
Alejandra Rodriguez Enriquez ◽  
Thomas Wahl
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
The United States ◽  
Coastal Flooding ◽  
Return Levels ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Linear Correlations ◽  
Variance Explained

Abstract. To improve our understanding of the influence of tropical cyclones (TCs) on coastal flooding, the relationships between storm surge and TC characteristics are analyzed for the east coast of the United States. Using observational data, the statistical dependencies of storm surge on TCs are examined for these characteristics: distance from TC center, TC intensity, track path angle, and propagation speed. Statistically significant but weak linear correlations are found for nearly all sites. At each location, storm surge is influenced differently by these characteristics, with some locations more strongly influenced by TC intensity and others by the distance from the TC center. The correlation for individual and combined TC characteristics increases when conditional sorting is applied to isolate strong TCs close to a location, though the fraction of surge variance explained is never greater than 60 %. The probabilities of TCs generating surge exceeding specific return levels (RLs) are then analyzed for TCs that pass within 500 km of a location, where between 7 % and 26 % of TCs were found to cause surge exceeding the 0.5-yr RL. If only the closest and strongest TCs are considered, the percentage of TCs that generate surge exceeding the 0.5-yr RL is between 30 % and 50 % at sites north of Sewell’s Point, VA, and over 70 % at almost all sites south of Charleston, SC. Overall, this analysis demonstrates that no single TC characteristic dictates how much surge will be generated and offers a unique perspective on surge probabilities that is based on all TCs rather than focusing only on those that cause extreme surge.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON STORM SURGE RISKS TO CONTAINERS CONSIDERING GLOBAL WARMING

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rikito Hisamatsu ◽  
Rikito Hisamatsu ◽  
Kei Horie ◽  
Kei Horie
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Inundation Depth ◽  
Risk Assessment Tools ◽  
Risk Maps ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Vulnerability Functions

Container yards tend to be located along waterfronts that are exposed to high risk of storm surges. However, risk assessment tools such as vulnerability functions and risk maps for containers have not been sufficiently developed. In addition, damage due to storm surges is expected to increase owing to global warming. This paper aims to assess storm surge impact due to global warming for containers located at three major bays in Japan. First, we developed vulnerability functions for containers against storm surges using an engineering approach. Second, we simulated storm surges at three major bays using the SuWAT model and taking global warming into account. Finally, we developed storm surge risk maps for containers based on current and future situations using the vulnerability function and simulated inundation depth. As a result, we revealed the impact of global warming on storm surge risks for containers quantitatively.

scholarly journals Storm Surges in the Bohai Sea: The Role of Waves and Tides

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1509
Author(s):  
Yuanyi Li ◽  
Huan Feng ◽  
Guillaume Vigouroux ◽  
Dekui Yuan ◽  
Guangyu Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storm Surge ◽  
Bohai Sea ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Wave Force ◽  
Laizhou Bay ◽  
Bohai Bay ◽  
Coastal Regions ◽  
The Bohai Sea ◽  
Tidal Phase ◽  
Set Up

A storm surge is a complex phenomenon in which waves, tide and current interact. Even though wind is the predominant force driving the surge, waves and tidal phase are also important factors that influence the mass and momentum transport during the surge. Devastating storm surges often occur in the Bohai Sea, a semi-enclosed shallow sea in North China, due to extreme storms. However, the effects of waves on storm surges in the Bohai Sea have not been quantified and the mechanisms responsible for the higher surges that affect part of the Bohai Sea have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we set up a storm surge model, considering coupled effects of tides and waves on the surges. Validation against measured data shows that the coupled model is capable of simulating storm surges in the Bohai Sea. The simulation results indicate that the longshore currents, which are induced by the large gradient of radiation stress due to wave deformation, are one of the main contributors to the higher surges occurring in some coastal regions. The gently varying bathymetry is another factor contributing to these surges. With such bathymetry, the wave force direction is nearly uniform, and pushes a large amount of water in that direction. Under these conditions, the water accumulates in some parts of the coast, leading to higher surges in nearby coastal regions such as the south coast of the Bohai Bay and the west and south coasts of the Laizhou Bay. Results analysis also shows that the tidal phase at which the surge occurs influences the wave–current interactions, and these interactions are more evident in shallow waters. Neglecting these interactions can lead to inaccurate predictions of the storm surges due to overestimation or underestimation of wave-induced set-up.

Influence of the applied pressure of the transducer on the propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave in wood

Holzforschung ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar V.M. Carrasco ◽  
Rejane C. Alves ◽  
Mônica A. Smits ◽  
Vinnicius D. Pizzol ◽  
Ana Lucia C. Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Applied Pressure ◽  
Pressure Gauge ◽  
Eucalyptus Grandis ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Ultrasonic Waves ◽  
Ultrasonic Speed ◽  
Wave Propagation Speed ◽  
Propagation Technique ◽  
Non Destructive

Abstract The non-destructive wave propagation technique is used to estimate the wood’s modulus of elasticity. The propagation speed of ultrasonic waves is influenced by some factors, among them: the type of transducer used in the test, the form of coupling and the sensitivity of the transducers. The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of the contact pressure of the transducers on the ultrasonic speed. Ninety-eight tests were carried out on specimens of the species Eucalyptus grandis, with dimensions of 120 × 120 × 50 mm. The calibration of the pressure exerted by the transducer was controlled by a pressure gauge using a previously calibrated load cell. The robust statistical analysis allowed to validate the experimental results and to obtain consistent conclusions. The results showed that the wave propagation speed is not influenced by the pressure exerted by the transducer.

scholarly journals Modeling Study on the Asymmetry of Positive and Negative Storm Surges along the Southeastern Coast of China

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 458
Author(s):  
Dongdong Chu ◽  
Haibo Niu ◽  
Wenli Qiao ◽  
Xiaohui Jiao ◽  
Xilin Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storm Surge ◽  
Pressure Field ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Central Pressure ◽  
Linear Interaction ◽  
Southeastern Coast ◽  
Zhoushan Archipelago ◽  
Wind Intensity

In this paper, a three-dimensional storm surge model was developed based on the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) by the hindcasts of four typhoon-induced storm surges (Chan-hom, Mireille, Herb, and Winnie). After model validation, a series of sensitivity experiments were conducted to explore the effects of key parameters in the wind and pressure field (forward speed, radius of maximum wind (RMW), inflow angle, and central pressure), typhoon path, wind intensity, and topography on the storm surge and surge asymmetry between sea level rise (positive surge) and fall (negative surge) along the southeastern coast of China (SCC). The model results show that lower central pressure and larger RMW could lead to stronger surge asymmetry. A larger inflow angle results in a stronger surge asymmetry. In addition, the path of Chan-hom is the most dangerous path type for the Zhoushan Archipelago area, and that of Winnie follows next. The model results also indicate that the non-linear interaction between wind field and pressure field tends to weaken the peak surge elevation. The effect of topography on storm surges indicates that the peak surge elevation and its occurrence time, as well as the surge asymmetry, increase with a decreasing slope along the SCC.

scholarly journals The lunar and solar diurnal variations of water-level in a well at Kew observatory, Richmond

1918 ◽  
Vol 94 (663) ◽  
pp. 476-478
Keyword(s):  
Water Level ◽  
Royal Society ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Barometric Pressure ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
Range Of Movement ◽  
Nearest Point ◽  
Similar Relation ◽  
Short Period ◽  
The Mean

In a paper communicated to the Royal Meteorological Society, it was shown that the experimental well at Kew Observatory responded to the lunar fortnightly oscillation of mean level in the River Thames, which is 300 yards from the Observatory at its nearest point. The sensitiveness of the water-level to barometric pressure has also been investigated, and the results have been given in a paper recently read before the Royal Society. The present paper deals with the effects of the short-period tides in the solar and lunar series, S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , and M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 . Two-hourly measurements, both in lunar and solar time, were made on the traces obtained during the first two years, August, 1914-August, 1916, omitting days of very irregular movement. Monthly mean inequalities were then computed. Well marked solar and lunar diurnal variations were found in each month, taking the form of double oscillations with two maxima and two minima during the 24 hours. The range of movement was in each case found to be highly associated with the mean height of the water in the well, the correlation coefficients being 0·89 (lunar) and 0·90 (solar). A similar relation had been previously found to exist in the case of barometric pressure.

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