Hurricane Sandy made a variety of impacts along the highly populated northeastern Atlantic seaboard in October 2012. Improved understanding of these impacts will better prepare us for the next one. As a result the USGS science provides a strong foundation for decision makers, planners and resource managers.
Research Themes
USGS scientists are working to assess forecast effectiveness, improve how we share information, and identify gaps to improve the information and tools we provide.
Over 160 of our scientists, technicians, and specialists responded to Hurricane Sandy by deploying field equipment and capturing information both before and after the storm. The USGS Sandy Science Plan identifies major research themes that support recovery activities as well as develop tools that prepare us for the future.
- Coastal Elevation Data and Mapping - Assess and evaluate coastal vulnerability and hazards.
- Understanding Coastal Change - Understanding changes to our coastlines over both short and long periods of time.
- Coastal Hydrology and Storm Surge - Developing a storm tide monitoring network and data analysis capability.
- Environmental Quality and Contaminants - Floodwaters and inundation in urban environments have the potential to coastal and aquatic environments to contaminants.
- Coastal Ecosystem Impacts - Documenting and evaluating impacts on coastal ecosystems.
Storm Readiness
USGS provides data and tools to support the Nation’s preparedness and ability to respond to and recover from natural hazard events. Funds provided through the Congressional Sandy Supplemental Appropriation support USGS in enhancing many data display tools and data delivery mechanisms. These datasets and products are being produced across the Science Themes to meet the needs of emergency managers, planners, engineers, and scientists.
Surge, Wave, and Tide Hydrodynamics (SWaTH) Network
SWaTH consists of 71 existing and new flood-hardened, real-time telemetered tide gages, 61 RDGs (Rapidly deployable real-time gages), and up to 555 temporary STSs (mobile Storm Tide Sensors). The STSs will be deployed in three distinct but integrated network configurations consisting of (1) a distributed array of stations representing the range of landscape types and infrastructure subject to surge and wave forces, (2) along transects from the coastline through the inland resource of concern (e.g. a wetland or coastal community), and (3) at existing tide and river monitoring stations where new data can be integrated with long-term records.
Sediment-bound Contaminant Resiliancy and Response (SCoRR)
As part of the US Geological Survey (USGS) response to Hurricane Sandy, a Sediment-bound Contaminant Resiliency and Response (SCoRR) strategy has been developed to define baseline and post-event sediment-bound environmental health stressors. This strategy will be demonstrated as a pilot study in the Northeastern US. The SCoRR strategy utilizes a tiered, multi-metric approach to:
- Identify and map contaminant sources and potential exposure pathways for human and ecological receptors,
- Define the baseline mixtures of EH stressors present in sediments (Resilience Mode),
- Document post-event changes in EH stressors present in sediments (Response Mode), and
- Establish and apply metrics to quantify changes in coastal resilience associated with sediment-bound contaminants.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
EAARL-B coastal topography: eastern New Jersey, Hurricane Sandy, 2012: first surface
Hurricane Sandy science plan: coastal topographic and bathymetric data to support hurricane impact assessment and response
Hurricane Sandy science plan: impacts of environmental quality and persisting contaminant exposure
Hurricane Sandy science plan: impacts to coastal ecosystems, habitats, and fish and wildlife
Hurricane Sandy science plan: coastal impact assessments
Hurricane Sandy science plan: impacts of storm surge, including disturbed estuarine and bay hydrology
Meeting the Science Needs of the Nation in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy-- A U.S. Geological Survey Science Plan for Support of Restoration and Recovery
National assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Mid-Atlantic Coast
Monitoring storm tide and flooding from Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic coast of the United States, October 2012
Coastal hazards: hurricanes, tsunamis, coastal erosion
Hurricane Sandy made a variety of impacts along the highly populated northeastern Atlantic seaboard in October 2012. Improved understanding of these impacts will better prepare us for the next one. As a result the USGS science provides a strong foundation for decision makers, planners and resource managers.
Research Themes
USGS scientists are working to assess forecast effectiveness, improve how we share information, and identify gaps to improve the information and tools we provide.
Over 160 of our scientists, technicians, and specialists responded to Hurricane Sandy by deploying field equipment and capturing information both before and after the storm. The USGS Sandy Science Plan identifies major research themes that support recovery activities as well as develop tools that prepare us for the future.
- Coastal Elevation Data and Mapping - Assess and evaluate coastal vulnerability and hazards.
- Understanding Coastal Change - Understanding changes to our coastlines over both short and long periods of time.
- Coastal Hydrology and Storm Surge - Developing a storm tide monitoring network and data analysis capability.
- Environmental Quality and Contaminants - Floodwaters and inundation in urban environments have the potential to coastal and aquatic environments to contaminants.
- Coastal Ecosystem Impacts - Documenting and evaluating impacts on coastal ecosystems.
Storm Readiness
USGS provides data and tools to support the Nation’s preparedness and ability to respond to and recover from natural hazard events. Funds provided through the Congressional Sandy Supplemental Appropriation support USGS in enhancing many data display tools and data delivery mechanisms. These datasets and products are being produced across the Science Themes to meet the needs of emergency managers, planners, engineers, and scientists.
Surge, Wave, and Tide Hydrodynamics (SWaTH) Network
SWaTH consists of 71 existing and new flood-hardened, real-time telemetered tide gages, 61 RDGs (Rapidly deployable real-time gages), and up to 555 temporary STSs (mobile Storm Tide Sensors). The STSs will be deployed in three distinct but integrated network configurations consisting of (1) a distributed array of stations representing the range of landscape types and infrastructure subject to surge and wave forces, (2) along transects from the coastline through the inland resource of concern (e.g. a wetland or coastal community), and (3) at existing tide and river monitoring stations where new data can be integrated with long-term records.
Sediment-bound Contaminant Resiliancy and Response (SCoRR)
As part of the US Geological Survey (USGS) response to Hurricane Sandy, a Sediment-bound Contaminant Resiliency and Response (SCoRR) strategy has been developed to define baseline and post-event sediment-bound environmental health stressors. This strategy will be demonstrated as a pilot study in the Northeastern US. The SCoRR strategy utilizes a tiered, multi-metric approach to:
- Identify and map contaminant sources and potential exposure pathways for human and ecological receptors,
- Define the baseline mixtures of EH stressors present in sediments (Resilience Mode),
- Document post-event changes in EH stressors present in sediments (Response Mode), and
- Establish and apply metrics to quantify changes in coastal resilience associated with sediment-bound contaminants.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.