Simulating storm surge and compound flooding events with a creek-to-ocean model: Importance of baroclinic effects. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ye, Fei; Zhang, Yinglong J.; Yu, Haocheng; Sun, Weiling; Moghimi, Saeed; Myers, Edward; Nunez, Karinna; Zhang, Ruoyin; Wang, Harry V.; Roland, Aron; Martins, Kevin; Bertin, Xavier; Du, Jiabi; Liu, Zhuo
• Is Part Of: Ocean modelling. Volume 145(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Storm surge -- 3D model -- Baroclinicity -- SCHISM -- National Water Model -- Delaware Bay -- USA; Oceanography -- Periodicals; Océanographie -- Périodiques; Oceanography; Periodicals; 551.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocemod.2019.101526
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-5003

Abstract

Abstract: We present a creek-to-ocean 3D baroclinic model based on unstructured grids that aims to unite traditional hydrologic and ocean models in a single modeling platform, by taking full advantage of the polymorphism (i.e. a single model grid can seamlessly morph between full 3D, 2DV, 2DH and quasi-1D configurations). Using Hurricane Irene (2011)'s impact on the Delaware Bay as an example, a seamless 2D–3D model grid is implemented to include the entire US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico with a highly resolved Delaware Bay (down to 20-m resolution). The model is forced by flows from a hydrological model (National Water Model ) at the landward boundary. We demonstrate the model's accuracy, stability and robustness with the simulation of the storm surge and subsequent river flooding events and compound surges. Through a series of sensitivity tests, we illustrate the importance of including in the simulation the baroclinic effects, as provided by the large-scale Gulf Stream, in order to correctly capture the adjustment process following the main surge and the subsequent compound flooding events. The baroclinicity can explain up to 14% of the elevation error during the adjustment phase after the storm. Highlights: Simulation of compound flooding by a creek-to-ocean 3D baroclinic model. Coupling with a continental-scale hydrologic model at 10 m above mean sea level. Pluvial processes in a significant portion of the watershed are directly simulated. Baroclinicity is shown to be important in the adjustment phase after the storm.