Hindcast of Hurricane Sally impacts on barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico

Donya P. Frank-Gilchrist; Davina L. Passeri; Matthew V. Bilskie

doi:10.1142/9789811275135_0204

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Hindcast of Hurricane Sally impacts on barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico

Donya P. Frank-Gilchrist·Davina L. Passeri·Matthew V. Bilskie

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Abstract

We performed XBeach and ADIRC+SWAN model simulations of Hurricane Sally over Dauphin and Petit Bois Islands off the Alabama-Mississippi coast to evaluate the morphologic response. Simulated water levels compared well with NOAA tide gauge observations to the east of Dauphin Island with a high model skill of 0.9. In addition, the XBeach model results of water levels, mean current speeds and significant wave heights agreed with ADCIRC+SWAN simulations near the offshore boundary and in the channel. Qualitative comparisons between the XBeach simulations and post-storm lidar observations confirmed model predictions of overwash. However, XBeach predicted minor breaches in Dauphin Island, which were not observed. This effort is part of a larger project in which several hydrodynamic and morphodynamic models will be coupled to produce hindcasts over a 15-year period for a larger region along the coast. These evaluations will provide local managers with strategic tools to make decisions about various coastal restoration alternatives.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 30.152412222672723° to 30.30917051732709° latitude; -88.53511493858724° to -88.043598091522° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Donya P. Frank-Gilchrist, Davina L. Passeri, Matthew V. Bilskie. 2023-03-23. Hindcast of Hurricane Sally impacts on barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811275135_0204

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