Storm Surges
What is Storm Surge?
Storm surge is the abnormal rise in seawater level during a storm, measured as the height of the water above the normal predicted astronomical tide. The surge is caused primarily by a storm’s winds pushing water onshore. The amplitude of the storm surge at any given location depends on the orientation of the coast line with the storm track; the intensity, size, and speed of the storm; and the local bathymetry.
Storm tide is the total observed seawater level during a storm, resulting from the combination of storm surge and the astronomical tide. Astronomical tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon and have their greatest effects on seawater level during new and full moons—when the sun, the moon, and the Earth are in alignment. As a result, the highest storm tides are often observed during storms that coincide with a new or full moon.[1]
Storm surges are a significant coastal hazard associated with low-pressure weather systems, such as cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons, which can lead to severe flooding and are a risk for coastal communities. As of February 2015, the dataset comprises over 700 recorded storm surge events.
Datasets
| Dataset | Description | Map viewer link | Data access link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Peak Storm Surge Map[2] | The Global Peak Storm Surge Map is a comprehensive resource that documents the location and magnitude of storm surges worldwide since 1880. | ||
| NOAA storm surge data[3] | Access | ||
| National storm surge risk maps[4] | View | Access | |
Storm Surge Data by Region
This dataset categorizes storm surges by the ocean basin in which they occurred, providing insights into regional patterns of this coastal climate risk.
Recorded Storm Surges as of February 2015
The following table summarizes the number of storm surge events recorded in each region:
| Region | Number of Storm Surges |
|---|---|
| Australia, New Zealand, Oceania | 134 |
| East Asia | 119 |
| Northern Indian Ocean | 58 |
| Southern Indian Ocean (Madagascar) | 1 |
| Western North Atlantic | 388 |
| Western North Atlantic (Non-US) | 36 |
| Eastern North Pacific (Hawaii, Mexico) | 2 |
| Total Surge Events | 702 |
Dataset Access
The Global Peak Storm Surge Map dataset provides a historical record crucial for research into past storm events and for planning future coastal defenses. For full access to the dataset, please refer to the Global Peak Storm Surge Database.
storm-tide monitoring: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/storm-tide-monitoring#overview
National Hurricane center[5]has a lot of useful information regarding the current hurricanes, including forecast of rainfall, storm surge forecast associated with the hurricane
- storm events database by NOAA: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/
- severe weather data inventory by NOAA https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/severe-weather-data-inventory view https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/swdi/
- usgs total water level and coastal change forecast viewer: https://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/research/twlviewer/
- sea-level rise viewer
Ocean data
- Daily OISST by NCEI: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/optimum-interpolation-sst
- NOAA digital coast: https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/flood-exposure.html
Damage and Loss
References
- ↑ https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/stormsurge-stormtide.html#:~:text=Storm%20surge%20is%20the%20abnormal,storm's%20winds%20pushing%20water%20onshore.
- ↑ https://surge.climate.lsu.edu/data.html
- ↑ https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/mdl/storm-surge
- ↑ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/nationalsurge/
- ↑ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/