Modeling Study on the Asymmetry of Positive and Negative Storm Surges along the Southeastern Coast of China

Abstract

In this paper, a three-dimensional storm surge model was developed based on the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) by the hindcasts of four typhoon-induced storm surges (Chan-hom, Mireille, Herb, and Winnie). After model validation, a series of sensitivity experiments were conducted to explore the effects of key parameters in the wind and pressure field (forward speed, radius of maximum wind (RMW), inflow angle, and central pressure), typhoon path, wind intensity, and topography on the storm surge and surge asymmetry between sea level rise (positive surge) and fall (negative surge) along the southeastern coast of China (SCC). The model results show that lower central pressure and larger RMW could lead to stronger surge asymmetry. A larger inflow angle results in a stronger surge asymmetry. In addition, the path of Chan-hom is the most dangerous path type for the Zhoushan Archipelago area, and that of Winnie follows next. The model results also indicate that the non-linear interaction between wind field and pressure field tends to weaken the peak surge elevation. The effect of topography on storm surges indicates that the peak surge elevation and its occurrence time, as well as the surge asymmetry, increase with a decreasing slope along the SCC.

Keywords

• storm surge
• key parameters in wind and pressure field
• typhoon path
• wind intensity
• topography
• surge asymmetry