Storm-Wave Flow through Tidal Inlets and Its Influence on Bay Flooding
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 2
Abstract
Offshore wave setup generated by wave breaking during coastal storms can create significant flow through tidal inlets and increase bay flooding. However, these flow contributions are not always considered when determining coastal flooding risk for engineering studies. This paper describes the wave-driven flow process at tidal inlets and demonstrates its impact on bay flooding on Long Island, New York. Numerical simulations using a coupled hydrodynamic and wave model are presented to show contributions to bay water level by wave-driven flow with respect to those by wind surge. These simulations include two major historical coastal storms and a small nor’easter in 2003, during which the model was validated using field measurements of water level. Finally, an approach is introduced for estimating wave-induced flow contributions to bay flooding as a function of inlet and storm characteristics, including tidal prism and wave conditions. The findings of this study indicate that wave-induced flow contributions make up 15–35% of the total storm surge, where the wave-induced flow contribution increases with increased inlet efficiency.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Moffatt and Nichol, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, and Offshore and Coastal Technologies, Inc. for allowing them to use field data, numerical simulations, and engineering results from the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point Reformulation Study in this paper. In particular, the writers want to express their gratitude to Ms. Lynn Bocamazo and Mr. Santiago Alfageme for their review and guidance throughout the duration of this study. All work presented was funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 2 • March 2009
Pages: 52 - 60
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Sep 20, 2007
Accepted: May 30, 2008
Published online: Mar 1, 2009
Published in print: Mar 2009
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