The potential inundation, I, of the beach system at Fire Island NS for Saffir-Simpson Category 1-4 hurricanes is defined as the difference between the elevation of the hurricane-induced mean water level (storm surge), Rlow, and the elevation of the seaward-most sand dune, Dhigh. Negative values (blues) indicate that water levels are predicted to be lower than the dune crest and that a particular section of beach is not likely to be inundated during the direct landfall of a hurricane. Positive values (reds) indicate that modeled storm surge exceeds the elevation of the dune crest, suggesting that the beach system is more vulnerable to inundation and the associated extreme coastal changes.
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