Storm surge risk under various strengths and translation speeds of landfalling tropical cyclones

Abstract

Landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) frequently occur with strong intensity in most coastal areas, and storm surges are likely to occur in response to extreme sea level (ESL) growth. However, the level of ESL growth under various wind conditions, coastline geometries and tide-surge interactions has not been clarified. In the Pearl River Estuary and Daya Bay, observations of landfalling TCs have indicated an increasing frequency of intense and rapid landfalls in the 2010s as compared to the 2000s, accompanied by a noteworthy increase in storm surge. Based on a large ensemble (∼0.5 million storm surge events with various tracks, maximum wind speeds, maximum wind radiuses, translation speeds and tidal conditions) obtained from well-validated model simulations, the ESL growth in the study area is further quantified as follows: (a) ESL growth is more sensitive to the acceleration effect of landfalling TCs than to the strengthening effect of landfalling TCs since the effect of low acceleration (+3 m s−1) is comparable to that under notable strengthening (+10 m s−1); (b) ESL growth is strongly modulated by coastline geometry, especially in flared or arching coastline areas. ESL growth mainly occurs along flared coastline areas when landfalling TCs strengthen into severe TCs or typhoons but can also occur along arching coastline areas for stronger landfalling TCs, such as severe typhoons or supertyphoons; and (c) ESL growth could be increased or decreased by approximately 10% under the effect of tide-surge interactions. Both the large-ensemble method and the above ESL growth characteristics are worthy of attention in risk assessment and rapid prediction of storm surges in shallow waters.