Water level response in back-barrier bays unchanged following Hurricane Sandy

Geophysical Research Letters
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

On 28–30 October 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused severe flooding along portions of the northeast coast of the United States and cut new inlets across barrier islands in New Jersey and New York. About 30% of the 20 highest daily maximum water levels observed between 2007 and 2013 in Barnegat and Great South Bay occurred in 5 months following Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy provided a rare opportunity to determine whether extreme events alter systems protected by barrier islands, leaving the mainland more vulnerable to flooding. Comparisons between water levels before and after Hurricane Sandy at bay stations and an offshore station show no significant differences in the transfer of sea level fluctuations from offshore to either bay following Sandy. The post-Hurricane Sandy bay high water levels reflected offshore sea levels caused by winter storms, not by barrier island breaching or geomorphic changes within the bays.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Water level response in back-barrier bays unchanged following Hurricane Sandy
Series title Geophysical Research Letters
DOI 10.1002/2014GL059957
Volume 41
Issue 9
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher Wiley Online Library
Contributing office(s) Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description 9 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Geophysical Research Letters
First page 3163
Last page 3171
Country United States
State New Jersey;New York
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details