Generating potential risk maps for typhoon-induced waves along the coast of Taiwan. (1st September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shih, Hung-Ju; Chen, Hongey; Liang, Ting-Yu; Fu, Huei-Shuin; Chang, Chih-Hsin; Chen, Wei-Bo; Su, Wen-Ray; Lin, Lee-Yaw
• Is Part Of: Ocean engineering. Volume 163(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 14
• Publication Date: 2018-09-01
• Subjects: Potential risk maps -- Typhoon-induced wave -- Tide-surge-wave model -- Taiwanese waters; Ocean engineering -- Periodicals; Ocean engineering; Periodicals; 620.4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.05.045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-8018

Abstract

Abstract: Typhoon-induced waves threaten the coastal areas of Taiwan each year. The roaring waves caused by typhoon Meranti (2016) even destroyed a lighthouse in a fishing port on the southwestern coast of Taiwan. Therefore, there has been increased interest in creating potential risk maps for typhoon-induced waves along the coast of Taiwan. In this study, the highest intensity and lowest intensity typhoons (HITs and LITs, respectively) for each category from 1977 to 2016 were selected. A fully coupled tide-surge-wave model was utilized to map the distributions of maximum significant wave heights for 18 typhoon events. Each map was classified into one of 5 levels and employed to generate maximum and minimum potential risk maps for typhoon-induced waves. Our results demonstrate that the northern and the eastern coasts of Taiwan are threatened by violent waves (significant wave heights (SWHs) range from 7 to 11.5 m) over a coastline length of 236.4 km and roaring waves (SWHs exceeding 11.5 m) over a coastline length of 298.1 km under HIT conditions. The lengths of coastline threatened by big waves (SWHs ranging from 3 to 6 m) and small waves (SWHs less than 3 m) are 637.7 km and 553.4 km, respectively, under LIT conditions. Highlights: A tide-surge-wave fully coupled model was implemented to predict the sea states for Taiwanese waters. The potential risk maps for typhoon-induced wave were created. The northern and the eastern coast of Taiwan are potentially impacted by a very severe sea state. The mainly western coast of Taiwan is subject to mild impact of typhoon-induced wave.