Storm surges in the southern North Sea and River Thames

Abstract

A numerical model has been formulated to provide predictions of surge levels in the southern North Sea and River Thames. The model has been used to simulate the disastrous surge of January-February 1953. It is shown that the major surge component along the east coast of England was that propagating from the northern North Sea, whereas along the Dutch coast the major component was due to the wind effect over the southern North Sea. During the course of the storm there was a large net transport of water southwards through the Dover Strait. This residual flow was found to affect the surge levels at Southend. An investigation has been made of the effect of deploying the future Thames Barrier during the course of the storm. At Southend the amplitude of the reflected wave from the barrier was found to be negligible. The distribution of energy during the storm has been examined and a plot made of the spatial variation in energy dissipation by bed friction.