Hurricane Sandy: Tracking Water Levels Completed
Fire Island breach
Storm tide map
Damaged ocean-front homes on Fire Island
Satellite image of U.S. landfall
Damage along New Jersey Shore at Mantoloking
During and after Hurricane Sandy, the USGS monitored water levels, storm tide, wave height, and high-water marks at over 224 locations. This information helps the USGS and its partners track the storm and respond to the most-impacted areas.
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.
Storm Surge Sensors are also shown that record fine-resolution storm tide and wave level data. This data became available on the viewer as soon as it was safe to retrieve the sensors and upload the data. In addition, imagery was provided from the National Geodetic Survey.
Following the event, high-water mark (HWM) data was added to the map by field crews soon after collection, including survey data and photos.
USGS Hurricane Sandy Activities in the News:
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Search for the High Mark - Wall Street Journal article describing efforts of the USGS to track Sandy's flood levels.
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Superstorm Snapshot - Discovery Channel-Canada discusses the causes of Hurricane Sandy
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USGS Science Features, October 29, 2012: USGS Responds to Hurricane Sandy
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USGS Science Features, October 29, 2012: USGS Issues Landslide Alert for Hurricane Sandy
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Huffington Post, October 29, 2012: Hurricane Sandy Resources
Below are other science projects associated with Hurricane Sandy and USGS flood activities.
Historical Flooding
Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Isaac
Flow Modeling at Dam Removal Sites Associated with Hurricane Sandy Resiliency Efforts
Hurricane Sandy - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Sandy - New York
Assessing Coastal Forest Impacts and Resource Management Implications following Hurricane Sandy
Assessment of Wetland Area Change and Shoreline Erosion Due to Hurricane Sandy
Assessing Treefall Patterns and Causal Relations of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
Dendrochronology of Coastal Forests to Evaluate Impacts of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
Aerial Videography Overflights of Forest Cover and Impact from Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic Coast, USA
Below are data or web applications associated with Hurricane Sandy and USGS flood activities.
USGS SWaTH Network
SWaTH is a system of flood-hardened, real-time telemetered tide gages, rapid deployment gages, and storm tide sensors deployed in integrated network configurations along the Northeastern Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Maine.
USGS Flood Event Viewer - Sandy
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.
Below are publications associated with with Hurricane Sandy.
Monitoring storm tide and flooding from Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic coast of the United States, October 2012
Below are data or web applications associated with Hurricane Sandy and USGS flood activities.
USGS Flood Event Viewer
During large, short-term events, the USGS collects streamflow and additional data (including storm tide, wave height, high-water marks, and additional sensor deployments) to aid in documenting flood events. The USGS Flood Event Viewer provides convenient, map-based access to downloadable event-based data.
Below are news stories associated with Hurricane Sandy.
Below are partners associated with Hurricane Sandy and USGS flood activities.
- Overview
During and after Hurricane Sandy, the USGS monitored water levels, storm tide, wave height, and high-water marks at over 224 locations. This information helps the USGS and its partners track the storm and respond to the most-impacted areas.
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.
Storm Surge Sensors are also shown that record fine-resolution storm tide and wave level data. This data became available on the viewer as soon as it was safe to retrieve the sensors and upload the data. In addition, imagery was provided from the National Geodetic Survey.
Following the event, high-water mark (HWM) data was added to the map by field crews soon after collection, including survey data and photos.
USGS Hurricane Sandy Activities in the News:
-
Search for the High Mark - Wall Street Journal article describing efforts of the USGS to track Sandy's flood levels.
-
Superstorm Snapshot - Discovery Channel-Canada discusses the causes of Hurricane Sandy
-
USGS Science Features, October 29, 2012: USGS Responds to Hurricane Sandy
-
USGS Science Features, October 29, 2012: USGS Issues Landslide Alert for Hurricane Sandy
-
Huffington Post, October 29, 2012: Hurricane Sandy Resources
-
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with Hurricane Sandy and USGS flood activities.
Historical Flooding
The USGS provides practical, unbiased information about the Nation's rivers and streams that is crucial in mitigating hazards associated with floods. This site provides information about the USGS activities, data, and services provided during regional high-flow events, such as hurricanes or multi-state flooding events. The USGS response to these events is typically managed by the National Flood...Hurricane Sandy
Peaking as a Category 3, Hurricane Sandy affected the Carribean and 24 U.S. eastern and central states (including the highly populated coastal areas of New Jersey and New York) from Oct. 22-Nov. 2, 2012, causing nearly $70 billion in damages.Hurricane Isaac
Hurricane Isaac was a Category 1 storm that made landfall in Louisana on August 28, 2012, causing tornadoes and widespread flooding in five states.Flow Modeling at Dam Removal Sites Associated with Hurricane Sandy Resiliency Efforts
The purpose of this work is to better understand the effects of dam removal on local hydraulics, fish passage, and flooding. This study is part of a larger effort to monitor ecological resilience changes at nine Hurricane Sandy coastal resiliency aquatic connectivity restoration projects. It will contribute crucial knowledge that will be used to improve aquatic connectivity system cost...Hurricane Sandy - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Sandy coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.Hurricane Sandy - New York
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/55dee95ce4b0518e354e0834 Gale- to storm-force winds associated with the passage of Sandy across central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania that lasted 12 to 18 hours caused major to record coastal flooding in southeastern New York on October 29, 2012. Of 10 real-time tide gages operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in coastal areas of Long Island...Assessing Coastal Forest Impacts and Resource Management Implications following Hurricane Sandy
Tropical storms and hurricanes wreak havoc with coastal forests where damage can vary with wind speed and approach from isolated treefalls to wide-area blowdowns of whole forests.Assessment of Wetland Area Change and Shoreline Erosion Due to Hurricane Sandy
Significant damage to coastal communities and surrounding wetlands of the north Atlantic states was caused by Hurricane Sandy in late October 2012, mostly tied to an associated storm surge of record extent and impact.Assessing Treefall Patterns and Causal Relations of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
As tropical storms and hurricanes move onshore and make landfall, wind and storm surge can be sufficiently high to damage built-infrastructure and natural systems, most notably coastal forests at the interface of land and sea.Dendrochronology of Coastal Forests to Evaluate Impacts of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
The science of dating growth rings and history of live and fossil wood samples is called dendrochronology. This technique is valuable for conducting climate reconstructions where meteorological data is lacking and for detecting past disturbance events such as tropical storms and hurricanes.Aerial Videography Overflights of Forest Cover and Impact from Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic Coast, USA
High resolution imagery (aerial videography) was obtained of Hurricane Sandy to assess forest damage by documenting disturbed canopy and downed trees. - Data
Below are data or web applications associated with Hurricane Sandy and USGS flood activities.
USGS SWaTH Network
SWaTH is a system of flood-hardened, real-time telemetered tide gages, rapid deployment gages, and storm tide sensors deployed in integrated network configurations along the Northeastern Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Maine.
USGS Flood Event Viewer - Sandy
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.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with with Hurricane Sandy.
Monitoring storm tide and flooding from Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic coast of the United States, October 2012
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) deployed a temporary monitoring network of water-level and barometric pressure sensors at 224 locations along the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Maine to continuously record the timing, areal extent, and magnitude of hurricane storm tide and coastal flooding generated by Hurricane Sandy. These records were greatly supplemented by an extensive post-flood high-wateAuthorsBrian E. McCallum, Shaun Wicklein, Robert G. Reiser, Ronald Busciolano, Jonathan Morrison, Richard J. Verdi, Jaime A. Painter, Eric R. Frantz, Anthony J. Gotvald - Web Tools
Below are data or web applications associated with Hurricane Sandy and USGS flood activities.
USGS Flood Event Viewer
During large, short-term events, the USGS collects streamflow and additional data (including storm tide, wave height, high-water marks, and additional sensor deployments) to aid in documenting flood events. The USGS Flood Event Viewer provides convenient, map-based access to downloadable event-based data.
- News
Below are news stories associated with Hurricane Sandy.
- Partners
Below are partners associated with Hurricane Sandy and USGS flood activities.