scholarly journals Modeling the Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Storm Surge Inundation in Flood-Prone Urban Areas of Hampton Roads, Virginia

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Castrucci ◽  
Navid Tahvildari
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Hydrodynamic Model ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hampton Roads ◽  
Level Data ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Surge Flooding

AbstractHampton Roads is a populated area in the United States Mid-Atlantic region that is highly affected by sea level rise (SLR). The transportation infrastructure in the region is increasingly disrupted by storm surge and even minor flooding events. The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding of SLR impacts on storm surge flooding in the region. We develop a hydrodynamic model to study the vulnerability of several critical flood-prone neighborhoods to storm surge flooding under several SLR projections. The hydrodynamic model is validated for tide prediction, and its performance in storm surge simulation is validated with the water level data from Hurricane Irene (2011). The developed model is then applied to three urban flooding hotspots located in Norfolk, Chesapeake, and the Isle of Wight. The extent, intensity, and duration of storm surge inundation under different SLR scenarios are estimated. Furthermore, the difference between the extent of flooding as predicted by the hydrodynamic model and the “bathtub” approach is highlighted.

Vulnerability of Hampton Roads, Virginia to Storm-Surge Flooding and Sea-Level Rise

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa R. Kleinosky ◽  
Brent Yarnal ◽  
Ann Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Hampton Roads ◽  
Surge Flooding ◽  
And Sea Level

COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES FOR SEA LEVEL RISE ADAPTATION IN HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Considine ◽  
Emily Steinhilber
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Collaborative Problem Solving ◽  
Hampton Roads ◽  
Global Rate ◽  
Municipal Boundaries ◽  
Sea Level Rise Adaptation

INTRODUCTION The Hampton Roads region is located in southeastern Virginia where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. The region includes seventeen municipal governments and has a large federal government presence with 26 federal agencies represented (See Figure 1). The region has a population that exceeds 1.7 million and is home to the deepest water harbor on the U.S. East Coast. Hampton Roads' economy is dependent on the local waterways and houses the world's largest naval facility, the sixth largest containerized cargo complex and supports a thriving shipbuilding and repair industry as well as a tourism industry. However, the region's vast coastline also contributes to its vulnerability from climate change. Hampton Roads is experiencing sea level rise at twice the global rate with regional projections in the January 2017 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report, Global and Regional Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the United States, of 1.9 feet of sea level rise at the low end and 11.5 feet of sea level rise under the most extreme case between 2000 and 2100 (NOAA, 2017). Planning for adaptation to sea level rise requires regional partnerships and strategies, especially for watersheds that cross municipal boundaries. While many of the municipalities in the region are forward thinking in their approaches to sea level rise, there is not a regional plan for adaptation and current federal funding models do not support analysis of and planning for sea level rise impacts on a regional scale. For coastal communities to be successful in sea level rise adaptation, there has to be a national understanding that water knows no borders and only collaborative problem-solving approaches that cross municipal boundaries will move regions toward adaptation. Functional boundaries of ecosystems or watersheds need to be the focus of adaptation rather than political boundaries of local, state, and federal entities. Coordination and collaboration between entities is the only way to achieve optimal outcomes.

scholarly journals Comparison of three methods for estimating the sea level rise effect on storm surge flooding

2012 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keqi Zhang ◽  
Yuepeng Li ◽  
Huiqing Liu ◽  
Hongzhou Xu ◽  
Jian Shen
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Surge Flooding

scholarly journals Response of Storm-Related Extreme Sea Level along the U.S. Atlantic Coast to Combined Weather and Climate Forcing

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 3745-3769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianjun Yin ◽  
Stephen M. Griffies ◽  
Michael Winton ◽  
Ming Zhao ◽  
Laure Zanna
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Climate Modeling ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
The United States ◽  
Coastal Flooding ◽  
Meridional Overturning Circulation ◽  
The U.S

AbstractStorm surge and coastal flooding caused by tropical cyclones (hurricanes) and extratropical cyclones (nor’easters) pose a threat to communities along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Climate change and sea level rise are altering the statistics of these extreme events in a rather complex fashion. Here we use a fully coupled global weather/climate modeling system (GFDL CM4) to study characteristics of extreme daily sea level (ESL) along the U.S. Atlantic coast and their response to global warming. We find that under natural weather processes, the Gulf of Mexico coast is most vulnerable to storm surge and related ESL. New Orleans is a striking hotspot with the highest surge efficiency in response to storm winds. Under a 1% per year atmospheric CO2 increase on centennial time scales, the anthropogenic signal in ESL is robust along the U.S. East Coast. It can emerge from the background variability as soon as in 20 years, or even before global sea level rise is taken into account. The regional dynamic sea level rise induced by the weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation facilitates this early emergence, especially during wintertime coastal flooding associated with nor’easters. Along the Gulf Coast, ESL is sensitive to the modification of hurricane characteristics under the CO2 forcing.

scholarly journals A National Study on Protecting Infrastructure and Public Buildings against Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Chinowsky ◽  
Jacob Helman
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
The United States ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
National Study ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Sea Levels ◽  
Rising Sea Levels ◽  
The Cost

The national study analyzes sea level rise (SLR) impacts based on 36 different SLR and storm surge scenarios across 5.7 million geographic locations and 3 time periods. Taking an approach based on engineering design guidelines and current cost estimates, the study details projected cost impacts for states, counties, and cities. These impacts are presented from multiple perspectives including total cost, cost per-capita, and cost per-square mile. The purpose of the study is to identify specific locations where infrastructure is vulnerable to rising sea levels. The study finds that Sea Level Rise (SLR) and minimal storm surge is a $400 billion threat to the United States by 2040 that includes a need for at least 50,000 miles of protective barriers. The research is limited in its scope to protecting coastal infrastructure with sea walls. Additional methods exist and may be appropriate in individual situations. The study is original in that it is a national effort to identify infrastructure that is vulnerable as well as the cost associated with protecting this infrastructure.

scholarly journals Projecting the Effects of Land Subsidence and Sea Level Rise on Storm Surge Flooding in Coastal North Carolina

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Johnston ◽  
Felicio Cassalho ◽  
Tyler Miesse ◽  
Celso Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Land Subsidence ◽  
Relative Rate ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
The United States

Abstract Much of the United States Atlantic coastline continues to subside due to post glacial settlement and ground water depletion. Combined with sea level rise (SLR), this contributes to a larger relative rate of SLR regionwide. In this work, we utilize the ADvanced CIRCulation model to simulate storm surges across coastal North Carolina. Simulations of recent Hurricanes Irene (2011) and Matthew (2016) are performed considering SLR projections and land subsidence estimates for the year 2100. The model is validated against historic water level observations with generally strong agreement (mean R2 0.81, RMSE 10–31 cm). At current rates of subsidence, storm surge susceptible regions increase on the order of 30–40% by 2100 relative to near-present day conditions. Flood water redistribution leaves low-lying areas especially vulnerable, as many of which also experience increased land subsidence. Combined with SLR projections, results project more than a doubling of areal flood extent for Hurricane Irene from ~ 2,000 km2 (2011) to 5,000 km2 (2100, subsidence + 74 cm), and more than a 3-fold increase ~ 1,400 km2 (2016) to 4,900 km2 (2100, subsidence + 74 cm) for Hurricane Matthew. The expected inundation increases have substantial implications for communities and ecosystems located in coastal North Carolina.

Quality Control of Real-Time Water Level Data: The U.S. IOOS® QARTOD Project

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
Mark Bushnell
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Hampton Roads ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Water Level Data ◽  
The U.S

AbstractWithin the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Program, the Quality Assurance/Quality Control of Real-Time Oceanographic Data (QARTOD) Project develops manuals that describe variable-specific quality control (QC) tests for operational use. The QARTOD's Manual for Real-Time Quality Control of Water Level Data: A Guide to Quality Control and Quality Assurance for Water Level Observations was created with broad support from entities engaged in operational observations of water levels. The process used to generate this manual and all other QARTOD manuals exemplifies the integration of “federal, state, and local government agencies as well as the private and nonprofit sectors” described by the Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Preparedness and Resilience Intergovernmental Pilot Project.Another project that supports Hampton Roads, Virginia, sea level rise and utilizes multiple partners is the deployment of continuous global positioning system (cGPS) receivers directly on water level sensors. These cGPS installations enable the determination of absolute sea level rise and local land subsidence. Successful transition of cGPS to an operational status requires the application of real-time data QC.

Coastal flooding protection will change salt-marsh sedimentation dynamics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Tognin ◽  
Andrea D'Alpaos ◽  
Marco Marani ◽  
Luca Carniello
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Sedimentation Rate ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Venice Lagoon ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Sedimentation Dynamics

<p>Coastal wetlands lie at the interface between submerged and emerged environments and therefore represent unique yet delicate ecosystems. Their existence, resulting from complex interactions between hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics, is challenged by increasing rates of sea-level rise, lowered fluvial sediment input as well as an increasing anthropogenic pressure. The future survival of these peculiar morphologies is becoming even more complicated, because of the construction and planning of coastal defence structures designed to protect urban areas from flooding. Important examples are the flood protection systems built to protect New Orleans (USA), the river Scheldt Estuary (The Netherlands) and Venice (Italy). In this context, understanding the physical processes on which coastal marshes are grounded and how engineering measures can alter them is of extreme importance in order to plan conservation interventions.</p><p>To understand marsh sedimentation dynamics in flood-regulated environments, we investigated through field observations and modelling the effect of the storm-surge barrier designed to protect the city of Venice, the so-called Mo.S.E. system, which has in fact become operational since October 2020.</p><p>Sedimentation measurements in different salt marshes of the Venice lagoon carried out in the period October 2018-October 2020 show that more than 70% of yearly sedimentation accumulates during storm-surge conditions, despite their short duration. Moreover, the sedimentation rate displays a highly non-linear increase with marsh inundation intensity, due to the interplay between higher water levels and greater suspended sediment concentration. Barrier operations during storm surges to avoid flooding of urban areas will reduce water levels and marsh inundation. Therefore, we computed sedimentation in a flood-regulated scenario for the same observation period, using the relation we obtained between tidal forcing and sedimentation rate. Our results show that some occasional closures during intense storm surges (70 hours/year on average) suffice to reduce the yearly sedimentation of the same order of magnitude of the relative sea-level rise rate experienced by the Venice lagoon during the last century (2.5 mm/y).</p><p>We conclude that storm-surge barrier operations can dangerously reduce salt-marsh vertical accretion rate, thus challenging wetland survival in face of increasing sea-level rise.</p>

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