Modeling of Storm-induced Surge and Flooding from Hurricane Harvey in 2017
Abstract
Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to the hazards, including wind-driven storm surge, waves, and flooding with increasing intensity related to climate change. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 resulted in unprecedented flooding and storm surge events in Houston-Galveston areas. The objective of our work was to better predict the impacts of storm surge, waves, and flooding from hurricanes in a complex coastal environment, using hurricane Harvey as an example. We developed a comprehensive numerical modeling framework using the Delft3D Flexible Mesh (DFM) within a broader component-based framework to provide predictions of storm-induced impacts. Features, such as surface wave, hydrological and hydraulic model-coupling, and grid nesting procedures help provide comprehensive information useful for addressing coastal hazards and capture large- and small-scale wave and flow dynamics. The variable grid, ranging from fine to coarse grid configurations combined into a flexible mesh, adequately represents high resolution bathymetry in shallow areas but also improves the overall simulation time and model accuracy. The modeling system was validated with available measurements to ensure a high level of model accuracy and will be used to estimate spatiotemporal variability in storm-induced surge and flooding. This study provides a new modeling framework to better understand the regional vulnerability of the Gulf of Mexico coast to coastal hazards. Statistical error evaluation is used to compare with existing frameworks (e.g. based on ADCIRC and E3SM models, etc.) considering both accuracy and computational efficiency. Future research will incorporate riverine flows from the National Weather Model (NWM) into the modeling system and will provide information on the effects of compound flooding from storm surge and riverine sources. Output from the modeling analyses will advance our scientific understanding of impacts of storm surge on critical infrastructure along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2022
- Bibcode:
- 2022AGUFMNH12B..02L