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ASWATHY.K.V
S1 CASAD, M Tech
ROLL NO:7

 It is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm,

over and above the predicted astronomical tide.

Generated by extreme weather conditions
Waves on top of surge devastate area

It is the water level rise during a storm due to the

combination of storm surge and the astronomical tide.

Storm surge is caused primarily by the strong winds

in a hurricane or tropical storm.

The wind circulation around the eye of a hurricane

blows on the ocean surface and produces a vertical

circulation in the ocean

Once the hurricane reaches shallower waters near the

coast, the vertical circulation in the ocean becomes

disrupted by the ocean bottom

The Pressure effect

The pressure effects of a tropical cyclone will cause the
water level in the open ocean to ,

rise in regions of low atmospheric pressure

fall in regions of high atmospheric pressure

Direct wind effect

Strong surface winds cause surface currents at a 45
degree

angle to the wind direction, by an effect

known as the Ekman Spiral.

Wind stresses cause a phenomenon referred to as

"wind set-up.

It is the tendency for water levels to increase at the

downwind shore, and to decrease at the upwind
shore.
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Effect of the Earth's rotation

The Earth's rotation causes the Coriolis effect

It bends currents to the right in the Northern

Hemisphere and

to the left in the Southern

Hemisphere.

When this bend brings the currents into more

perpendicular contact with the shore it can amplify the

surge

And when it bends the current away from the shore it

has the effect of lessening the surge
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Effect of waves
Powerful wind whips up large, strong waves in the
direction of its movement.

Rainfall effect
Hurricanes may dump as much as 300 mm of rainfall in

24 hours over large areas, and higher rainfall densities in

localized areas.
As a result, watersheds can quickly surge water into
the rivers that drain them.
This can increase the water level near the head of tidal
estuaries as storm-driven waters surging in from the
ocean.
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Central Pressure
Lower pressure will produce a higher surge.

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Storm Intensity
Stronger winds will produce a higher surge

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Storm Forward Speed

On the open coast, a faster storm will produce a higher
surge.

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Angle of Approach to Coast

A storm that moves onshore
perpendicular to the coast will produce a higher
storm surge

parallel to the coast or moves inland at an oblique

angle will produce lower surge

Shape of the Coastline

Storm surge will be higher when a hurricane
makes landfall on a concave coastline
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Width and Slope of the Ocean Bottom

Higher storm surge occurs with wide, gently

sloping continental shelves

Lower storm surge occurs with narrow, steeply
sloping shelves

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Local Features
Storm surge is highly dependent on local features and
barriers that will affect the flow of water

Example : The coast of North Carolina, which has the

complexities of such features as barrier islands, inlets,

sounds, bays, and rivers.

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Tide stations measure the variation in water level along the

coast.

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High Water Marks :

HWMs are lines found on trees and structures marking the
highest elevation of the water surface for a flood event,
created by foam, seeds, or other debris.

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Pressure Sensors :
Provide information about storm surge duration, times of

arrival and retreat, and maximum depths.

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Dangers of Surge

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Devastating to lowlying coastal regions

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Inland Surge

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A maximum
storm surge
of more than
25ft (8 m)

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Before Hurricane
Katrina

After Hurricane
Katrina

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New York City

October 2012,
with a high tide
of 14 ft (4.2 m)

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New
Orleans,
Louisiana
August 8,
2012
Before

After

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Gopalpur in Odisha
October 2013
winds raging at
200km an hour
whipping up a
storm surge of a
over 3 metres
inundated
areas up to half a
kilometre inland
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 Construction of dams and floodgates (storm surge

barriers)
Examples :
Floodgates in Netherlands
Thames Barrier in London
Saint Petersburg Dam in Russia
Creation of housing communities at the edges of wetlands
with floating structures.
Such wetlands can then be used to accommodate runoff
and surges without causing damage to the structures.
It also protect conventional structures at somewhat higher
low-lying elevations.
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 The storm surge is an additional rise in sea level above

the expected astronomical tide

The severity of a storm surge depends on

whether it coincides with a low or high tide.

It leads to the devastation of low-lying coastal regions

and Inland Surge.

The effect can be reduced by consructing certain barriers.
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