Hurricanes
Science Center Objects
Hurricanes are large-scale disturbances of such force and size that their influence on landscape pattern and processes of coastal systems is evident, though still poorly understood. The regularity and severity of tropical storms are major factors controlling ecosystem structure and succession for coastal ecosystems. Hurricane landfall rates vary greatly for given coastal stretches of the southeastern United States. USGS scientists are involved in wide-ranging hurricane research efforts, often conducting post-storm assessments to characterize the degree and extent of damage to coastal ecosystem structure.
HURRICANE SPECIAL TOPIC WEBSITES
Hurricane Maria and Tropical Storm Jose acquired by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 13 (GOES-13 or GOES East) at 1:15 p.m. local time on September 19, 2017.
The links below will take you to websites specific to each hurricane. These websites are a combination of information from across USGS.
CURRENT USGS SCIENCE:
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC)
- Hurricanes
- Response of Migrating Birds to Hurricane Sandy
- Post-Hurricane Sandy Vegetation Recovery in the Presence of a Hyper-abundant Deer Population
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC)
WARC researchers in Louisiana help with boat and rescue after Hurricane Katrina (Public domain.)
- Aerial Videography Overflights of Forest Cover and Impact from Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic Coast, USA
- Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment at Dauphin Island
- Assessing Coastal Forest Impacts and Resource Management Implications following Hurricane Sandy
- Assessing Treefall Patterns and Causal Relations of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
- Assessment of Wetland Area Change and Shoreline Erosion Due to Hurricane Sandy
- Collecting Ecological Data and Models of Living Shoreline Restoration Projects
- Conservation of Rare Vegetation Communities of the Atlantic Coastal Barrier Islands
- Dendrochronology of Coastal Forests to Evaluate Impacts of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
- Effect of Hurricane Wrack Deposition on Coastal Marsh Surface Elevation Change
- Forecasting Biological Vulnerabilities: Modeling Jamaica Bay Wetland Morphology under Future Hurricanes
- Hurricane Sandy Impacts on Coastal Wetland Resilience in the Northeast United States
- Hurricane Sandy Spatial Data Mapping Application
- Hurricane Sandy Surge and Marsh Dieback in the New Jersey Coastal Zone
- Natural Resources Assessment of Tribal Lands Impacted by Hurricane Sandy
- Optical and Radar Fusion: Mapping Coastal Marsh Dieback
- Post-Hurricane Sandy Vegetation Recovery in the Presence of a Hyper-abundant Deer Population
- Predicting the Long-Term Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Spatial Patterns of Wetland Morphology in Salt Marshes of Jamaica Bay, New York
- Promoting USGS Research on Environmental Impacts of a Major Storm – Hurricane Sandy
- Response of a Threatened Shorebird to Severe Storms
- Salinity Intrusion Impacts from Hurricane Sandy in Tidal Freshwater Swamps, Delmarva Peninsula, Mid-Atlantic Coast, USA
- Storm Impact Assessments on Coastal Bird Populations, Behavior, and Nesting along the Outer Banks Barrier Islands, North Carolina
High Resolution Orthoimagery archived at the USGS EROS Center and inset into the larger image show the New Jersey coastal town of Mantoloking five years before Sandy made landfall, as well as the slow recovery three years after the storm. Entire blocks of houses visible in the 2007 image were damaged or completely washed away by the storm surge and wind, replaced by empty patches of sand in the 2015 image.
⇒ Return to Environments Science
Consortial brown tide − picocyanobacteria blooms in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba
A brown tide bloom of Aureoumbra lagunensis developed in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba during a period of drought in 2013 that followed heavy winds and rainfall from Hurricane Sandy in late October 2012. Based on satellite images and water turbidity measurements, the bloom appeared to initiate in January 2013. The causative species (A. lagunensis...
Hall, Nathan S; Litaker, R. Wayne; Kenworthy, W. Judson; Vandersea, Mark W.; Sunda, William G.; Reid, James P.; Slone, Daniel H.; Butler, Susan M. Numerical modeling of salt marsh morphological change induced by Hurricane Sandy
The salt marshes of Jamaica Bay serve as a recreational outlet for New York City residents, mitigate wave impacts during coastal storms, and provide habitat for critical wildlife species. Hurricanes have been recognized as one of the critical drivers of coastal wetland morphology due to their effects on hydrodynamics and sediment transport,...
Hu, Kelin; Chen, Qin; Wang, Hongqing; Hartig, Ellen K.; Orton, Philip M.
Barrier island habitat map and vegetation survey—Dauphin Island, Alabama, 2015
Barrier islands are dynamic environments due to their position at the land-sea interface. Storms, waves, tides, currents, and relative sea-level rise are powerful forces that shape barrier island geomorphology and habitats (for example, beach, dune, marsh, and forest). Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Deep Water Horizon oil spill in 2010 are two...
Enwright, Nicholas M.; Borchert, Sinéad M.; Day, Richard H.; Feher, Laura C.; Osland, Michael J.; Wang, Lei; Wang, Hongqing
Land area change in coastal Louisiana (1932 to 2016)
Coastal Louisiana wetlands are one of the most critically threatened environments in the United States. These wetlands are in peril because Louisiana currently experiences greater coastal wetland loss than all other States in the contiguous United States combined. The analyses of landscape change presented here have utilized historical surveys,...
Couvillion, Brady R.; Beck, Holly; Schoolmaster, Donald; Fischer, Michelle Analysis of the effect of Hurricane Sandy on New Jersey Atlantic coastal marshes based on landsat thematic mapper and operational land imager data: 2000-2015
This USGS Data Release represents geospatial data sets that were created for the analysis of the effect of Hurricane Sandy on New Jersey Atlantic Coastal Marshes. The following listed image products were generated:1) Fifteen marsh surface condition index (MSCI) data sets were calculated from yearly summer collections of ETM+ image data from 2000...
Rangoonwala, Amina; Riter, J. C. Alexis; Kearney, Michael S.; Ramsey, Elijah W. Causal mechanisms of soil organic matter decomposition: Deconstructing salinity and flooding impacts in coastal wetlands
Coastal wetlands significantly contribute to global carbon storage potential. Sea-level rise and other climate change-induced disturbances threaten coastal wetland sustainability and carbon storage capacity. It is critical that we understand the mechanisms controlling wetland carbon loss so that we can predict and manage these resources in...
Stagg, Camille L.; Schoolmaster, Donald; Krauss, Ken W.; Cormier, Nicole; Conner, William H.
Numerical modeling of the effects of Hurricane Sandy and potential future hurricanes on spatial patterns of salt marsh morphology in Jamaica Bay, New York City
The salt marshes of Jamaica Bay, managed by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the Gateway National Recreation Area of the National Park Service, serve as a recreational outlet for New York City residents, mitigate flooding, and provide habitat for critical wildlife species. Hurricanes and extra-tropical storms have been...
Wang, Hongqing; Chen, Qin; Hu, Kelin; Snedden, Gregg A.; Hartig, Ellen K.; Couvillion, Brady R.; Johnson, Cody L.; Orton, Philip M.-
Date published: January 19, 2018Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer
Total water level (TWL) at the shoreline is the combination of tides, surge, and wave runup. A forecast of TWL is an estimate of the elevation where the ocean will meet the coast and can provide guidance on potential coastal erosion and flooding hazards.
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Date published: October 5, 2017Flood Event Viewer — Nate
The USGS Flood Event Viewer helps USGS and its partners to track of the storm and its impact on surface water levels. A storm track field is included from NOAA's National Hurricane Center, and real-time USGS streamgage data and Rapid Deployment Gage data are linked through this map-based product.
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Date published: September 20, 2017Hurricane Jose 2017 Event Support Map
Track hurricane data and USGS resources.
Attribution: Natural Hazards, Emergency Management -
Date published: September 19, 2017USGS Flood Event Viewer - Jose
The USGS Flood Event Viewer helps USGS and its partners to track of the storm and its impact on surface water levels. A storm track field is included from NOAA's National Hurricane Center, and real-time USGS streamgage data and Rapid Deployment Gage data are linked through this map-based product.
Attribution: Northeast -
Date published: September 18, 2017USGS Flood Event Viewer - Maria
The USGS Flood Event Viewer helps USGS and its partners to track of the storm and its impact on surface water levels. A storm track field is included from NOAA's National Hurricane Center, and real-time USGS streamgage data and Rapid Deployment Gage data are linked through this map-based product.
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Date published: August 24, 2017USGS Flood Event Viewer - Harvey
The USGS Flood Event Viewer helps USGS and its partners to track of the storm and its impact on surface water levels. A storm track field is included from NOAA's National Hurricane Center, and real-time USGS streamgage data and Rapid Deployment Gage data are linked through this map-based product.
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Date published: April 21, 2016Hurricane Sandy Ecosystems Application Development
This showcases the data and analytical products from studies related to habitat change, storm surge and ecological modeling, migratory bird impacts, and other studies conducted at WARC and funded by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013. WARC's Advanced Applications Team also supports the efforts of scientists conducting research in Hurricane Sandy-impacted areas.
Attribution: Ecosystems, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center -
Date published: April 12, 2016Hurricane Sandy Spatial Data Map
The Hurricane Sandy Spatial Data Mapping Application showcases data and analytical products from Aerial reconnaissance imagery; Environmental Contaminants; and Reproductive success of piper plovers.
Attribution: Natural Hazards, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
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Date published: May 31, 2018USGS Hurricane Response Met Challenges in 2017, Prepares for 2018
No one has a crystal ball to foresee what will happen during the 2018 hurricane season that begins June 1, but NOAA forecasters say there’s a 75 percent chance this hurricane season will be at least as busy as a normal year, or busier.
Attribution: Core Science Systems, Ecosystems, Natural Hazards, Water Resources, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, States and Territories, Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Texas Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center -
Date published: April 23, 2018USGS Tracks How Hurricane Floodwaters Spread Non-Native Freshwater Plants and Animals
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate may have spread non-native freshwater plants and animals into new water bodies, where some of them can disrupt living communities or change the landscape.
Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center -
Date published: October 6, 2017Before and After: Coastal Change Caused by Hurricane Irma
New high angle oblique photos of portions of Florida’s beaches taken before and after Hurricane Irma made landfall and swept up the state show the impact of the hurricane’s storm surge and waves.
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Date published: September 26, 2017Hurricane Maria expected to alter North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland Beaches
To learn more about USGS’ role providing science to decision makers before, during and after Hurricane Maria, visit the USGS Hurricane Maria page at https://www.usgs.gov/maria.
Attribution: Natural Hazards, Emergency Management, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Northeast, States and Territories, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center -
Date published: September 22, 2017USGS Continues Response to Four Hurricanes
As thousands of people remain displaced by or are recovering from one of the four hurricanes that have affected the United States the past month, the U.S. Geological Survey is in the field providing science that will help with recovery from these historic hurricanes and with preparing for the next storm.
Attribution: Natural Hazards, Emergency Management -
Date published: September 15, 2017Landsat Images Before and After Harvey Illustrate Flooding in Texas
To learn more about USGS’ role providing science to decision makers before, during and after Hurricane Harvey, visit the USGS Hurricane Harvey page at https://www.usgs.gov/harvey.
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Date published: September 6, 2017USGS Prepares for Hurricane Irma
To learn more about USGS’ role providing science to decision makers before, during and after Hurricane Irma, visit the USGS Hurricane Irma page.
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Date published: September 6, 2017Hurricane Harvey Response
USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center staff are assisting the Texas Water Science Center with streamflow measurements and high-water mark determinations in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. This information is vital for future flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service.
Attribution: States and Territories, Oklahoma Water Science Center -
Date published: August 25, 2017
USGS Prepares for Hurricane Harvey
To learn more about USGS’ role providing science to decision makers before, during and after Hurricane Harvey, visit the USGS Hurricane Harvey page.
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Date published: November 22, 2016The Fire Island Wilderness Breach: Help or Hindrance?
When Hurricane Sandy struck the south shore of Long Island, New York, on October 29, 2012, it caused substantial erosion of the beach and dunes. Storm waves cut through Fire Island National Seashore’s wilderness area, forming a breach. The resulting channel allowed water to flow between the Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay.