Traditional methods to assess the probability of storm-induced erosion and flooding from extreme water levels have limited use along the U.S. West Coast where swell dominates erosion and storm surge is limited. This effort presents methodology to assess the probability of erosion and flooding for the U.S. West Coast from extreme total water levels (TWLs), but the approach is applicable to coastal settings worldwide. TWLs were derived from 61 years of wave and water level data at shore-perpendicular transects every 100-m along open coast shorelines. At each location, wave data from the Global Ocean Waves model were downscaled to the nearshore and used to empirically calculate wave run-up. Tides were simulated using the Oregon State University’s tidal data inversion model and non-tidal residuals were calculated from sea-surface temperature and pressure anomalies. Wave run-up was combined with still water levels to generate hourly TWL estimates and extreme TWLs for multiple return periods. Extremes were compared to onshore morphology to determine erosion hazards and define the probability of collision, overwash, and inundation.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2022 |
---|---|
Title | Characterizing storm-induced coastal change hazards along the United States West Coast |
DOI | 10.1038/s41597-022-01313-6 |
Authors | James B. Shope, Li H. Erikson, Patrick L. Barnard, Curt Storlazzi, Katherine A. Serafin, Kara S. Doran, Hilary F. Stockdon, Borja G. Reguero, Fernando J. Mendez, Sonia Castanedo, Alba Cid, Laura Cagigal, Peter Ruggiero |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Nature--Scientific Data |
Index ID | 70232204 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center |
Related Content
Coastal Climate Impacts
Dynamic coastlines along the western U.S.
Li Erikson
Research Oceanographer
Patrick Barnard
Research Geologist
Curt Storlazzi, PhD
Research Geologist
Kara Doran
Supervisory Physical Scientist
Hilary Stockdon, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator (Acting)
Related Content
- Science
Coastal Climate Impacts
The impacts of climate change and sea-level rise around the Pacific and Arctic Oceans can vary tremendously. Thus far the vast majority of national and international impact assessments and models of coastal climate change have focused on low-relief coastlines that are not near seismically active zones. Furthermore, the degree to which extreme waves and wind will add further stress to coastal...Dynamic coastlines along the western U.S.
The west coast of the United States is extremely complex and changeable because of tectonic activity, mountain building, and land subsidence. These active environments pose a major challenge for accurately assessing climate change impacts, since models were historically developed for more passive sandy coasts. - Connect
Li Erikson
Research OceanographerEmailPhonePatrick Barnard
Research GeologistEmailPhoneCurt Storlazzi, PhD
Research GeologistEmailPhoneKara Doran
Supervisory Physical ScientistEmailPhoneHilary Stockdon, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator (Acting)EmailPhone