Jeff Woods and Mark Zucker
U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Five hurricanes impacted south Florida during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons: Charley, Frances, and Jeanne in 2004, and Katrina and Wilma in 2005. Data collection during such storms is an important component of hydrodynamic modeling, disaster management, and storm prediction. In Northeastern Florida Bay, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) coastal monitoring network recorded the extreme hydrologic conditions created by these hurricanes. Following the storms, USGS personnel measured flows using acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP's) and recorded high water debris marks at all of the stations.

The coastal monitoring network consists of 14 hydrologic monitoring stations that measure water level, discharge, salinity, and temperature. Thirteen stations measure stream velocity, which is then used to calculate creek discharge at 15-minute intervals. The remaining station measures stage, salinity, and temperature only. For the stations which measure stream velocity, a linear regression is used to relate mean measured velocity measurements (from a boat mounted ADCP) to velocity measurements obtained from an acoustic Doppler velocity meter deployed permanently on the channel bank. Creek discharge is then estimated by calculating the cross-sectional area of the creek, dictated by stage values, and multiplying the area by the rated velocity determined from the velocity regression.

Time series data from three of the monitoring stations were graphically compared to analyze hydrologic trends and similarities during periods of high wind and storm surge. Analysis of all measured and calculated data collected during these storm events correlate well between sites. The timing and magnitude of the observed peak storm surge was dependent upon the path of the storm (as it approached the coast) in relation to the geographic location and orientation of the estuary. Discharge and salinity trends showed clear differences between the two years in the amount of time required for the system to return to "typical" conditions for that time of year. Water retention from storm surges was dependent on wetland conditions carried over from the dry season, rainfall, and water management practices.

Contact Information: Jeff Woods, U. S. Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center, 3110 SW 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315, USA, Phone: 954-377-5950; Fax: 954-377-5901, Email: jwoods@usgs.gov

(This abstract is from the 2006 Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference.)

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Related Project: Coastal Gradients of Flow, Salinity and Nutrients