Quantification of the Attenuation of Storm Surge Components by a Coastal Wetland of the US Mid Atlantic

Paquier, Anne-Éléonore; Haddad, Jana; Lawler, Seth; Ferreira, Celso M.

doi:10.1007/s12237-016-0190-1

Cited by 40 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…The pressure data loggers captured the first event in September, while the Aquadopps were able to monitor both events. Paquier et al (2016) reported vegetation species and characteristics measured on 17 October 2015 in ES at six locations along the marsh transect, as it is displayed in Figure 1c. They noticed that the dominant specie was S. alterniflora, as it was observed in previous studies conducted in the Chesapeake Bay region (Knutson et al, 1982).…”

Section: Coastal Stormsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Wave Attenuation by Spartina Saltmarshes in the Chesapeake Bay Under Storm Surge Conditions

et al. 2019

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This study investigates the capacity of a Spartina alterniflora meadow to attenuate waves during storm events based on field observations in the Chesapeake Bay. These observations reveal that environmental conditions including the ratio between water depth and plant height (hr), the ratio between wave height (HS) and water depth, and current directions impact the wave height decay. Further, we present empirical representations of the bulk drag coefficient (Cd) as a function of the Keulegan‐Carpenter (KC) and Reynolds (Re) numbers, and the hr ratio. When applying the distinction between current directions, this representation exhibits better agreement when using the Re (ρ2 = 54%) and hr (ρ2 = 77%) than with the KC (ρ2 = 39%). Furthermore, we show that the representation of Cd can be improved by using a hr‐based modified Re and KC formulation, yielding correlations of 76% (modified Re) and 78% (modified KC). The proposed expressions are validated during another storm and predicted HS computed within the marsh results in a root‐mean‐square error of 0.014 m, overestimating the largest HS (0.22 m) by 18%. Finally, these expressions are applied to several hypothetical sea conditions. Under similar vegetation characteristics, HS of 1.55 and 0.8 m (close to a 10,000‐ and 100‐year recurrence interval storm) are attenuated by 50% and 70%, respectively, at 250 m from the marsh edge. This study provides evidence that validates the saltmarsh wave attenuation capacity during storms, quantifies this attenuation, and supports the transferability of the existing formulas in the literature across similar coastal marshes.

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Section: Coastal Stormsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Wave Attenuation by Spartina Saltmarshes in the Chesapeake Bay Under Storm Surge Conditions

et al. 2019

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“…In this study, water level data of monthly and hourly resolution were retrieved from the nearest tidal station-8638863 Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Virginia (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2016). The water level measurements made at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel tidal station have also been used as a proxy for those at the present site in another previous study by Paquier et al (2017). Wherever necessary, additional water level data were also retrieved from the 8638610 Sewells Point tidal station, Virginia (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2016), which has a longer record but is further away.…”

Section: Climate and Storm Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Declining Radial Growth Response of Coastal Forests to Hurricanes and Nor'easters

et al. 2018

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The Mid‐Atlantic coastal forests in Virginia are stressed by episodic disturbance from hurricanes and nor'easters. Using annual tree ring data, we adopt a dendroclimatic and statistical modeling approach to understand the response and resilience of a coastal pine forest to extreme storm events, over the past few decades. Results indicate that radial growth of trees in the study area is influenced by age, regional climate trends, and individual tree effects but dominated periodically by growth disturbance due to storms. We evaluated seven local extreme storm events to understand the effect of nor'easters and hurricanes on radial growth. A general decline in radial growth was observed in the year of the extreme storm and 3 years following it, after which the radial growth started recovering. The decline in radial growth showed a statistically significant correlation with the magnitude of the extreme storm (storm surge height and wind speed). This study contributes to understanding declining tree growth response and resilience of coastal forests to past disturbances. Given the potential increase in hurricanes and storm surge severity in the region, this can help predict vegetation response patterns to similar disturbances in the future.

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“…Paquier et al () conducted a vegetation survey at the ES site during the fall of 2015 ( see Table ) and observed that vegetation stem densities varied between 270 and 425 stem per m 2 at the lower marsh, but 760–870 stem per m 2 were found at the upper marsh. Plant heights showed a large variability.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential of marshes to attenuate storm surge water level in the Chesapeake Bay

Glass

Garzon

Lawler

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

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Storm surges from tropical and extratropical storms frequently impact coastal communities globally. While the potential of natural and nature‐based features for coastal defenses has gained increased attention as a viable option for coastal flood protection, the lack of in situ measurements of storm surge attenuation has delayed their widespread utilization. We present the findings of a 3‐yr water level monitoring campaign that resulted in a large collection (52 flood events) of attenuation rates from marsh transects located in two natural preserves in the U.S. mid‐Atlantic region. Results show that the overall marsh attenuated water levels, exhibiting values up to 0.02 cm/m at Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge (ES) and 0.03 cm/m at Magothy Bay Natural Preserve (MGB). In general, the greatest attenuation rates were observed at the marsh edge section. The reach close to the coastline revealed an amplification of the water level followed by water level attenuation toward the backside of the marsh. However, analyses of five major storms at ES demonstrated that, within each event, the ability of the upper marsh to attenuate water level decreased with higher inundation heights. Additionally, small spatial scales of the marsh platform, geomorphological features such as channels, elevated surrounding forests and levees seem to play a major role in reducing the attenuation rates provided by the marshes. These results indicate that, while this type of marshland would provide storm surge attenuation during low inundation heights, these ecosystems would be less effective attenuating higher water depths from extreme events.

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Quantification of the Attenuation of Storm Surge Components by a Coastal Wetland of the US Mid Atlantic

Cited by 40 publications

References 56 publications

Wave Attenuation by Spartina Saltmarshes in the Chesapeake Bay Under Storm Surge Conditions

Wave Attenuation by Spartina Saltmarshes in the Chesapeake Bay Under Storm Surge Conditions

Declining Radial Growth Response of Coastal Forests to Hurricanes and Nor'easters

Potential of marshes to attenuate storm surge water level in the Chesapeake Bay

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