Reducing Hurricane Flood Risk: Quantifying wetlands storm surge attenuation rate in the Chesapeake Bay region

Abstract:

The Chesapeake Bay area is subject to storm surge from extreme weather events nearly year-round; from tropical storms and hurricanes during the summer and fall, (e.g., hurricanes Isabel [2003] and Sandy [2012]), and from nor’easters during the winter (e.g., winter storms Nemo and Saturn [2013]). It is largely believed that wetlands have the potential to attenuate storm surge especially against fast moving and less intense storms. Also, the sea-level rise is one of the most significant factors of climate change that will impact coastal areas and is also expected to have substantial impacts on the patterns and process of coastal wetlands, thereby affecting surge generation and propagation inside the bays.  To improve our fundamental knowledge of tide and storm surge hydrodynamics in wetlands ecosystems, we installed a high density sensor network in 3 natural reserves in the Chesapeake Bay eastern shore to thoroughly monitor water levels within wetlands ecosystems and performed field surveys to measure vegetation structural characteristics contributing to flow resistance (i.e. height, diameter and stem density). This information is used to support the calibration of a multi-model, multi-scale, multi-resolution modeling approach integrating High Performance Computing (HPC) of large scale and high resolution hurricane storm surge modeling (ADCIRC+SWAN). Quantifying the role of wetlands in attenuating storm surge will provide sound scientific information to support planning and decision making. Furthermore, a better fundamental understanding of the phenomena will scientifically support coastal resilience efforts and planning of wetlands restoration projects with multi-objective benefits for society and the prevention of wetlands degradation by sea-level rise.