Response of estuarine and coastal ecosystems to winter storms in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the U.S.

Raymond Sambrotto, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, sambrott@ldeo.columbia.edu (Presenter)
Sherwin Ladner, Naval Research Lab, ladner@nrlssc.navy.mil
Sean McCarthy, Naval Research Lab, sean.mccarthy@nrlssc.navy.mil

Although tropical storms cause significant damage along the east coast of the U.S., the northern part is subject to powerful extratropical cyclones during winter that historically have caused the most cumulative damage. The StormEVAAC project combines atmospheric and ocean models, regional climatology, and social science with high-resolution ocean color data to better resolve the environmental, ecological and human impacts of these storms. A primary tool is the suite of bio-optical properties at 250m resolution derived from MODIS-Aqua using interpolation methods and an advanced atmospheric correction. This resolution makes it possible to assess storm impacts on spatial scales of environmental relevance to productive bays, shorelines and wetlands. Initial results document the impact of several major storms on the transport of suspended sediment and the levels of chlorophyll, parameters that are important in the analysis of the stability of shorelines and the response of the coastal ecosystem. Developmental work includes the application of selected wavelength bands and new algorithms for the analysis of water quality and the potential for bacterial increases in near-shore waters after storms. We are integrating these findings with efforts to restore natural shorelines as part of the sustainability goals for New York City. Longer time series and bio-optical climatologies support additional goals of the StormEVAAC project that include the quantification of the region’s exposure to weather and climate hazards as well as the areas’ human and societal vulnerabilities. The ultimate goals include the development of better tools with which to assess the impacts of storm surge and inland flooding, wind and temperature extremes on the mixture of natural and built environments along most coasts.

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  Theme 2: Landscapes to coasts: understanding Earth system connections   (Mon 1:30 PM)

Associated Project(s): 

• Kushnir, Yochanan: Vulnerability of the U.S. Atlantic Coast to hazards associated with extreme winter storms ...details

Poster Location ID: 108