A modeling study of storm surge in the Salish Sea
Presentation Abstract
The Pacific Northwest coasts are subject to the threat of coastal inundation as a result of storm surge. This snapshot presentation provides an overview of a modeling study of storm surge in the Salish Sea using a high resolution coastal hydrodynamic model. A series of historical storm surge events were identified based on non-tidal residual (NTR) water levels observed at Seattle tide gage. Model simulations corresponding to selected storm surge events were conducted. The Salish Sea storm surge model was validated with both observed tidal and NTR data at NOAA tide gauges in the Salish Sea. Sensitivity analysis on the effects of wind forcing and the open boundary conditions are investigated. Model results indicated that storm surge within Salish Sea is dominated by the open boundary conditions at the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and wind forcing plays a secondary role. Distributions of storm surge heights corresponding to the sub-basins of Salish Sea are analyzed. The result is a map showing coastal areas at higher risk of storm surge versus those that are less exposed.
Session Title
Posters: Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, & Research
Conference Track
SSE18: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE18-20
Start Date
5-4-2018 11:30 AM
End Date
5-4-2018 1:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Storm surges--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--Simulation methods
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
A modeling study of storm surge in the Salish Sea
The Pacific Northwest coasts are subject to the threat of coastal inundation as a result of storm surge. This snapshot presentation provides an overview of a modeling study of storm surge in the Salish Sea using a high resolution coastal hydrodynamic model. A series of historical storm surge events were identified based on non-tidal residual (NTR) water levels observed at Seattle tide gage. Model simulations corresponding to selected storm surge events were conducted. The Salish Sea storm surge model was validated with both observed tidal and NTR data at NOAA tide gauges in the Salish Sea. Sensitivity analysis on the effects of wind forcing and the open boundary conditions are investigated. Model results indicated that storm surge within Salish Sea is dominated by the open boundary conditions at the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and wind forcing plays a secondary role. Distributions of storm surge heights corresponding to the sub-basins of Salish Sea are analyzed. The result is a map showing coastal areas at higher risk of storm surge versus those that are less exposed.
