Hurricane-Induced Coastal Erosion Hazards
U.S. Geological Survey and USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program
Features
- Identifies Gulf of Mexico coastline likely to experience extreme and potentially hazardous erosion during a hurricane
- Compares hurricane-induced water levels to beach and dune elevations to determine the probability of coastal changee
- Examines small-scale variability for a specific area
- Provides supporting morphology and water level data
Overview
This interactive map displays hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards for sandy beaches along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coastline. The analysis is based on a storm-impact scaling model that uses observations of beach morphology combined with sophisticated hydrodynamic models to predict how the coast will respond to the direct landfall of category 1-5 hurricanes. Hurricane-induced water levels resulting from both surge and waves are compared to beach and dune elevations to determine the probabilities of three types of coastal change: collision (dune erosion), overwash, and inundation.