Year
2015
Season
Fall
Paper Type
Master's Thesis
College
College of Computing, Engineering & Construction
Degree Name
Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)
Department
Engineering
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. School of Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. William R. Dally
Second Advisor
Dr. Don T. Resio
Third Advisor
Dr. Christopher J. Brown
Department Chair
Dr. Murat Tiryakioglu
College Dean
Dr. Mark A. Tumeo
Abstract
A hydrodynamic-based storm severity scale that ranks the damage potential of a storm at a given coastal area is developed. Seventeen tropical and extratropical storm events at 113 different locations on the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico are examined in order to create and verify a Storm Severity Index Model (SSIM). The results from the SSIM are then used to create a location-based storm severity scale titled the Twenty-Four Point Storm Severity Scale. The Twenty-Four Point Scale is based on three subsets of factors. The first is the energy flux above the normal mean high water line that the storm produces, the second is the amount of overwash due to wave-induced runup, and the third is the inundation due to surge-induced flooding that occurs during the event. The advantage of this methodology is that it enables the level of risk associated with a storm to be examined for a specific region, rather than having a single broad value define the entire event. Although, the index is intended for use on sandy beaches with or without dunes, the general methodology could be extended to armored beaches.
Suggested Citation
Todaro, Gabriel Francis, "The Development of a Hydrodynamics-Based Storm Severity Index" (2015). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 601.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/601