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In order to provide updated information relevant to the oil spill response, we have selected a number of weather scenarios that are used as input to the inundation and overwash predictions. These scenarios are based on recent and forecast weather patterns, as well as some larger events that may be expected based on historical records. We have categorized these scenarios according to the Beaufort wind scale. The actual values of the input and predicted variables may differ at each analysis location due to changes in bathymetry and coastline orientation.
| Calm | Moderate Waves | High Waves | Tropical Storm | Hurricane | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort Scale | 0-3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8-11 | 12 |
| Wave Height (m) | <1 | 1-3 | 3-5.5 | 5.5-14 | >14 |
| Wave Period | Variable - values used are consistent with recent weather patterns or climatology | ||||
| Wind Speed (m/sec) | 0-5.4 | 5.5-10.7 | 10.8-17.1 | 17.2-32.6 | >32.7 |
| Wind Direction | n/a | onshore | onshore | onshore | onshore |
| Tide | Mean high water unless otherwise specified | ||||
| Surge | Specific to wind patterns and local bathymetry | ||||
| Wave Runup | Computed from wave height, wave period, and measured beach slope | ||||
Joint Information Center (JIC)
Department of the Interior (DOI)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
Minerals Management Service (MMS)
National Park Service (NPS)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
U.S. Air Force (USAF)
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.usgs.gov/oilspill/scenario/description.asp
Page Contact Information: Ask USGS
Page Last Modified: Wednesday, August 25, 2010
