Module 5: Coastal Catastrophes: Storms and Tsunamis

Introduction

Without a doubt, coastal storms and tsunamis are among the most devastating natural hazards to impact human societies. Even seemingly small hurricanes and nor'easters have the capacity to do significant damage in very short periods of time. Each year, these catastrophes result in numerous injuries, the loss of life and property, and are detrimental to the economic vitality of coastal regions around the world. Coastal storms, whether tropical or extratropical, result in significant erosion from high winds, high water levels and coastal flooding, and large turbulent waves. The list of damaging storms in recent years is extensive, in part because storms of one type or another can be generated throughout the year. In the U.S., hurricane season lasts from early summer through early winter, and when hurricane season is over, extra-tropical storms (nor'easters) become more frequent. Many of you might recall something about the impacts of significant events like Hurricanes Katrina, Irene, or Sandy here in the U.S. However, fewer of you likely heard about the significant impacts of Typhoons like Haiyan that hit the Philippines in the fall of 2013, or Cyclone Lehar that impacted portions of India about the same time. Fewer of you probably heard about the most recent event, Typhoon Neoguri.

Figure 5.1: The photo is from Wallops Island, view to the north showing erosion of the southern end of the island and the exposure of the geotextile tubes that were used as artificial dunes prior to beach replenishment. Intensive erosion from Hurricane Sandy helped, in part, expose the previously buried artificial dunes. A 14' high, 70 m-wide beach had been created in front of the artificial dunes by the Army Corps ( million) job was completed in August 2012, but as shown in the picture much of this 70 m-wide beach was eroded out by the storm. Although it took a beating, compared to Hurricane Irene just a year earlier, facilities were up and running the day after the storm with limited interruption. The replenishment project was considered a great success.
Credit: Nick Mathews, taken on November 3, 2012

• Goals and Objectives
• Typhoon Neoguri
• Hurricane Katrina Revisited
• Coastal Catastrophes: Climate Related Hazards
• Univeristy Park ONLY: Formative Assessment I: Option A: Historical Hurricane Track Analysis: Cyclone Monica
• University Park ONLY: Formative Assessment Part I: Option B: Historical Hurricane Track Analysis: Hurricane Andrew
• Coastal Catastrophes: Tsunamis
• University Park ONLY: Formative Assessment 2: 2004 Sumatran Tsunami Analysis
• Assessments
• Summary and Final Tasks