2018 Storm Processes: Funded Research
University of Delaware
Intra-storm Erosion Processes on an Engineered Dune System develops new sensing capabilities for measuring intra-storm processes on natural and engineered beach systems. These instruments will be used to measure surf zone processes such as near bed currents and rapidly changing water and sea bed levels. Benefits include process understanding and quantification for engineering design and numerical model validation and training next generation researchers
Dr. Jack Puleo
Photo: Student Stan Borrell joyfully deploying instrumentation deployment at Bethany Beach, DE in Apr 2019
U.S. Naval Academy
Shoreline Wave Attenuation by Mangroves and Marshes (SWAMM) develops quantitative relationships of wave attenuation through vegetation using physical model experiments and field measurements of boat wakes and wind wave transformation near mangrove shorelines as well as training of midshipmen research students. Benefits to stakeholders and the Army Corps include a better understanding of the potential and limitations of natural and nature-based features as shoreline protection.
Dr. Tori Tomiczek Johnson
Photo: Mangrove shoreline at data collection site – Key West, FL, 4 July 2019
University of Central Florida
University of California at Santa Barbara
Data assimilation for the improved forecasting of hurricane storm surges investigates the potential of computational methods to improve real-time prediction of hurricane storm surges using data. Benefits to stakeholders include a potential increased capacity of emergency management and responders to provide effective, timely community information during coastal hazards, particularly as the climate changes and the risk of storm surge increases.
Dr. Talea Mayo
Image: Project framework will improve predictions of climate induced changes to storm surge risk
University of California at Santa Barbara
University of California at Santa Barbara
University of California at Santa Barbara
Communicating sea-level rise risks to US publics in high-risk FEMA flood zones evaluates how coastal residents in California, New Jersey, Virginia and Florida understand sea-level rise risks in their local communities. Using geographically-disaggregated surveys, this project provides members of the public with customized information about sea-level rise risks across their census track, highlighting the position of their own residence. The project survey then evaluates interest in individual and community-level resilience behaviors in response to these individual and systemic risk messages. This research will help inform how FEMA and private stakeholders can best communicate the risks of sea-level rise to impacted residents.
Dr. Matto Mildenberger
Image: Projected sea-level rise map customized for each survey respondent with their address visualized within their census track.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
University of California at Santa Barbara
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Total Groundwater Levels and Flooding During Major Storms uses ongoing groundwater measurements and citizen-science data submitted through the iFlood app to evaluate and improve models of flooding from ocean storms and rainfall on the N.C. Outer Banks. The researchers aim to increase community awareness of coastal flooding hazards and inform local town managers about the processes contributing to flooding in their community to guide future management strategies and strengthen engagement between communities, town managers and scientists.
Rachel Housego (Student)
Image: User interface of the iFlood phone app which showcases citizen science flood reports
Florida Institute of Technology
University of California at Santa Barbara
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Development and coupling of a parametric wave model with ADCIRC: An Ensemble Approach creates and tests a fetch based parametric wave solver for coastal estuaries coupled into an ensemble nested circulation and wave modeling system for estuaries and bays, eliminating the need for a computationally expensive 3rd generation wave model. The resulting system performs high-resolution wave and circulation predictions for coastal estuaries using a fraction of the computational resources typically required. The improvements in modeling efficiency benefits stakeholders, NOAA, and the Army Corps by enabling real-time ensemble and/or scenario based modeling approaches to risk management.
Dr. Robert J. Weaver
Image: Water level predictions vs. in-situ data at two locations within highly a restricted coastal estuary
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
Coupling of Inlet-Scale and Region-Scale Flooding Predictions addresses the need for dynamic feedback between storm processes and barrier island response. This project considered the erosion and breaching of Hatteras Island during Hurricane Isabel (2003), to examine how flow through 'Isabel Inlet' affected the sound side of the island. This is a necessary step toward dynamic forecasts for decision support for FEMA, NOAA, and the Army Corps.
Dr. Casey Dietrich
Image: Prediction of breaching can now be used to also predict storm surge flow through a barrier island