a comprehensive database of storm surge data for use in coastal hazards research and storm surge...
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A Comprehensive Database Of Storm Surge Data For Use In Coastal Hazards Research And Storm
Surge Model Calibration
Andrew Maloof1
Rochelle Legaspi1
Rob Young2
Dave Bush1
1University of West Georgia2Western Carolina University
Storm Surge: The Signature of a hurricane
• An accurate record of storm surge is vital to a thorough understanding of the impacts of a passing or landfalling hurricane.
• Timing of hurricane landfall with astronomical tides can raise or lower the storm high-water level.
• It is unfortunate that there are so many gaps in the data, or that information is difficult to find.
Storm Surge
• Storm physical characteristics• Movement of the storm• Shape of the shoreline
Gilbert, 1988, Yucatán north coast
water line
This house is over 500 meters from the water. Indoor water marks are the best indicators of high water levels.
Hugo, 1989, Pawleys Island, SC
Surge floated houses from foundations; most of the front row is gone.
Hugo, 1989, Garden City, SC
Floated houses, sand overwash, older homes built before building codes.
Emily, 1993, Cape Hatteras, NC
Offshore blowing winds created debris line on the back of the islands.
debris line is surge level
Hugo, 1989, Puerto Rico
Sand washover along the Piones shoreline (east of San Juan) after Hurricane Hugo. An estimated 500,000 cubic meters of sand was washed ashore along this stretch.
Opal, 1995, Florida Panhandle
Surge allowed waves to directly attack and destroy first story of motel.
Temporary rise is sea level resulting from storm processes: Wind, waves, barometric effect
Terminology
• Storm surge—water above normal astronomical tide
• High water level—maximum still water height reached during storm
• Storm tide—NOAA term for high water level
stor
m s
urge
high water level
tide level
Observed (high water level) Observed (high water level) - Predicted water level (tides)Predicted water level (tides)
= Storm Surge = Storm Surge
Storm-surge levels along South Carolina coast (from FEMA). Storm-surge levels along South Carolina coast (from FEMA).
Eye at landfall Radius of maximum winds
Charleston
Hurricane Hugo (1989), South Carolina, Storm Surge Profile
Storm Surge-Ebb
Storm surge water rushes back to sea after the hurricane passes, often causing much damage
Hurricane Ivan, 2004, USGS photo pair
Hurricane Isabel inlet, 2003, North of Cape Hatteras, NC
Storm Surge Data are Often Lacking
• Data not routinely collected• No formalized procedure• Several agencies• Most data unpublished
Hurricane Opal
Storm Surge
Hurricane Katrina
Even with all this death and destruction resulting from hurricanes storm surge, documentation for storm surge is very limited, and in some cases does not exist.
GOAL
• Create the world’s first storm surge database
• Aid research for coastal hazards assessment
http://www.stormsurgedatabase.org/
Home Page
Home PageLink to real time imagery
Home Page
Select hurricane year of interest for more information
Home Page
Links to satellite imagery by ocean basin
Home Page
Let’s click on 2008
Listing gives name, dates, date and time of U.S. landfall.
Let’s click on Ike
Links to available reports
Satellite image and link to National Hurricane Center
Panable Google map of area of greatest impact.
Aspects of storm surge for database
• Location of data point• Maximum water level• Method of measurement• Who took the measurement• Reliability of measurement
Hurricane Name DatesSaffir-Simpson
Scale
Approach time of
day Latitude Longitude PressureApproach
Angle
Approach Speed mph
State/States Affected
Nearest Major City
Pressure at
Landfall
Wind Speed at Landfall
Tides - Actual
Measurement
Date Measured
Max Water Level above
Predicted Water Level
Max Storm Surge
Description of Height Cited By Citation
Degrees North
Degrees South mb
Name/Distance/Direction to:
MLLW (M) Storm
Tide m mOpal 8/27/1995 Tropical Depression 1800 19.1 87.3 1004
8/28/1995 "" 0000 19.4 87.5 1004"" 0600 19.4 87.9 1004"" 1200 19.3 88.2 1003"" 1800 19.3 88.4 1003
8/29/1995 "" 0000 19.4 88.4 1003"" 0600 19.5 88.4 1003"" 1200 19.6 88.3 1003"" 1800 19.8 88.2 1003
8/30/1995 "" 0000 20.1 88.2 1002"" 0600 20.6 88.3 1002
Tropical Storm 1200 21.1 88.5 1001"" 1800 21.4 89.1 1000
9/1/1995 "" 0000 21.3 89.9 994"" 0600 21.1 90.7 987"" 1200 20.9 91.2 986"" 1800 20.8 91.6 985
9/2/1995 "" 0000 20.7 91.9 984"" 0600 20.8 92.1 980
Hurricane 1200 21.0 92.3 973"" 1800 21.2 92.3 972
9/3/1995 "" 0000 21.7 92.2 970"" 0600 22.2 92.0 969"" 1200 22.8 91.6 968 120 8 1 Tide NOAA"" 1800 23.5 91.0 965 119 10 1 Tide NOAA
9/4/1995 "" 0000 24.5 90.1 953 119 15 1 Tide NOAA"" 0600 25.9 89.4 935 119 18 1 to 2 Tide NOAA"" 1200 27.3 88.5 919 118 18.5 1 to 2 Tide NOAA"" 1800 29.0 87.7 938 118 21 1 to 2 Tide NOAA
Landfall ►►► "" 2200 30.3 87.1 942 117 Florida Pensacola Beach 942 100 mph 2 to 3 High Water Mark NOAA9/5/1995 "" 0000 31.0 86.8 950 25 Florida 950 80 mph 2 to 3 High Water Mark NOAA
Tropical Storm 0600 33.2 86.2 974 26 50 mph 1 to 2 High Water Mark NOAATropical Depression 1200 35.4 85.7 982 26 30 mph 1 to 2 High Water Mark NOAA
Extratropical 1800 38.5 83.5 986 25 40 mph 1 to 2 High Water Mark NOAA9/6/1995 "" 0000 40.5 82.3 989 23 40 mph NOAA
"" 0600 42.0 80.5 991 40 mph NOAA"" 1200 43.3 78.4 997 35 mph NOAA"" 1800 44.5 76.5 1002 30 mph NOAA