Wind Wave and Storm Surge Modeling Predictions
to Avert Future Natural Disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina
Qin Chen, University of South Alabama /
Louisiana State University & Agricultural and Mechanical College
The goal of the Chen Group at Louisiana State University is to develop an integrated research in coastal engineering and science that will advance modeling of storm surge and wave dynamics. Additionally, the Group is educating K-12, college students, and the general public about coastal issues in the Gulf area. Addressing education and research needs in coastal engineering along the Gulf Coast is essential to the recovery and rebuilding of the region devastated by recent hurricanes.
Results: In 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico as a catastrophic storm. It devastated New Orleans, Louisiana, as well as the Mississippi and Alabama coasts. Its ripple effects impacted the entire nation. The Chen Group found that the inadequate coastal engineering research and education in the Gulf Coast region were reflected in the failures of civil engineering infrastructure and buildings seen in the Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath. By coupling two state-of-the-art computer models, the Group simulated the storm surge and wind waves generated by Hurricane Katrina. The model results were tested against field observations, including offshore buoy data of surface waves and post-storm survey of high watermarks. The Group then used the modeled waves and surges to compute the dynamic loading and explain the collapse of several coastal bridges during recent hurricanes.
The research findings were presented at the national symposium on “Wave Forces on Coastal Bridges” sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, the workshop on “Development of Risk-Based Storm Surge Maps” organized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Ocean Science Meeting, and the annual meeting of the American Society for Engineering Education. As part of the efforts to meet the need for coastal engineering education and research in the Gulf Coast region, the Chen Group is in the process of establishing a unique graduate degree program in coastal and ecological engineering at Louisiana State University. The new program will serve the U.S. Gulf Coast and beyond.
Figure 1. Katrina’s flood map: Spatial distribution of modeled maximum surge heights
Figure 2. Spatial distribution of modeled maximum significant wave heights during Katrina
Credit, both images: Chen, Q. Jim; Louisiana State University
Impact on Industry and/or Society: One of the important lessons from Hurricane Katrina was the pressing need for coastal engineering research and education along the Gulf Coast. There are 21 universities offering graduate programs in coastal engineering nationwide. However, most of the coastal engineering programs are located on the East and West Coasts. In fact, from the Florida Panhandle to the Louisiana-Texas boarder, there were no graduate programs in coastal engineering on the central Gulf Coast before Hurricane Katrina. An examination of the engineering programs at the universities in the three states devastated by Hurricane Katrina identified the absence of coastal engineering education programs in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and limited access to the coastal engineering knowledge and expertise needed by the engineering communities in the area. The Chen Group is meeting the immediate need for research and education in coastal engineering on the Gulf Coast.
Potential Economic Impact: Hurricane Katrina caused widespread, catastrophic devastation along the central Gulf Coast. More than a quarter million people were displaced, more than 1,000 people lost their lives, and the property damage exceeded $100 billion. Civil engineering infrastructure, including highways, roads, bridges and ports throughout the Gulf Coast in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama took a hard hit from Katrina. For instance, the costs of rebuilding all the coastal bridges damaged by recent hurricanes alone well exceed $1 billion. An accurate prediction of storm waves and water surges will save lives and protect properties in the future. Thus, the Chen Group’s research has a huge potential economic impact.
Work is notable because Hurricane Katrina is one of the most deadly and costly natural disasters in U.S. history. Development of accurate coastal hydrodynamic models enables better prediction of destructive waves and storm surges. This will save lives and reduce damage to properties. The development of accurate flood maps using the coupled wave and surge models will lead to better guidelines for development and rebuilding of coastal communities. The educational component of this project is helping prepare the next generation of coastal engineers.
Work involves multidisciplinary research: The research component takes an interdisciplinary approach. Relevant methodologies in three disciplines, civil engineering, physical oceanography and computational science are integrated.
This project addresses the NSF Goals of: (1) Discovery and (2) Learning. The Chen Group realized a need to simultaneously model storm surge and wind wave activities and to predict their impact. Combining the two hydrodynamics processes has led to a new modeling technique that will impact storm prediction, city design, and damage mitigation. The Chen Group has also influenced education efforts through outreach programs to K-12, college students and the general public. The Group has created opportunities for increased coastal engineering research and education along the Gulf Coast, allowing the region to be better prepared for the future disaster response and city planning efforts.
This Nugget represents transformative research. The Chen Group was highly insightful in combining the two modeling techniques to provide an improved model for storm surge and wind waves effects. Additionally, in educating the next generation of new engineers and general public, better city planning and resources will be available for future development and disaster response.