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Coastal Storms Program
On-Line Coastal Inundation ToolHelping Communities Understand and Visualize Coastal Flooding and Erosion HazardsRecent studies conducted in the Pacific Northwest indicate that the severity of major storms and their generated waves have been increasing for at least the past 25 to 50 years. These events typically produce unusually high tides and the northward movement of beach sand within littoral cells, creating “hot spot” erosion sites. These studies also indicate that, in general, severe erosion conditions exist for several hours during a storm event with the magnitude of the erosion and coastal inundation being a function of the wave characteristics and tidal elevation. The On-Line Coastal Inundation Tool incorporates this improved understanding of the conditions and trends that result in coastal inundation and erosion to better assess potential impacts on the shoreline. The tool provides both real-time and predictive assessments of coastal inundation and identifies coastline that is susceptible to erosion or bluff failure. Such information may be used to quantify the amount of time that areas are subjected to high waves and to establish appropriate setback distances along the coast for the safe establishment of homes and other infrastructure. How the Project WorksThrough the Coastal Storms Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center worked closely with the Oregon Ocean-Coastal Management Program and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries to develop an on-line geographic information system (GIS)-based mapping tool, specific to coastal inundation, for 30 miles of sandy shoreline in the coastal county of Tillamook, Oregon, within the Netarts and Rockaway littoral cells. The tool resides within the Oregon Coastal Atlas (www.coastalatlas.net) — an Internet portal to an extensive collection of information about the Oregon coastline. This tool incorporates real-time data collected from the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) and the National Ocean Service (NOS). A geometric model is used to calculate the combined effect of wave run-up and tides on the beach, allowing the user to identify erosion or flooding during a storm. The tool also allows the user to view information from past storms, such as peak wave and tide heights. Finally, animations of historical inundation are available through an accompanying Web site, which can be accessed at www.csc.noaa.gov/cspPNW/. The tool is intended for use by state and local planning and permitting agencies, emergency response agencies, and the public. The model that is used in the tool will be adaptable in systems developed for California and Washington coast, which share similar geomorphic and climatological conditions. For Additional Information Tara Miller |
