Simply put, storm surge is when the wind from a storm pushes the water onshore.
FLORIDA, USA — Storm surge has been a giant subject of debate over the previous few days as Hurricane Ian barrels down on Florida.
What many individuals do not understand is that the Gulf Coast of Florida is the worst place within the U.S. in the case of storm surges.
To perceive the hazards of storm surges on this space, it’s a must to take a look at a map of the Gulf of Mexico. The darker the blue on the map, the deeper the water. Notice, when you get nearer to Florida, you get extra of a light-weight blue colour. That signifies shallower water and that performs a very huge function within the vulnerability of a shoreline to storm surge.
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The Florida coast has an enormous stretch of shallow water that ranges from 150 miles up close to Sarasota to over 200 miles as you get down in the direction of Naples.
The water depths present an enormous distinction. You go from over 10,000 ft out in the course of the Gulf, to water depths which can be measured in a whole bunch of ft as you get nearer to the shoreline. In truth, within the closest 50 miles to the shoreline, that water depth drops under 65 ft.
Think a few ball as you try to roll it up a ramp. The shallower that ramp, the additional that ball goes to go. If you will have a steep ramp, the ball would not get very far. It’s the identical precept while you consider storm surges.
What is storm surge?
Simply put, a storm surge it is when the wind from a storm pushes the water onshore.
The weaker the storm, the decrease the storm surge, however as that storm will get stronger and the wind will get stronger, it is in a position to push extra water onshore.
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In a few of the most excessive instances, we are able to see storm surge values pushing water 10 to even 15 ft above floor degree. When that occurs water can rise to the primary and second ranges of properties close to the water.
The Tampa Bay space might see a storm surge of as much as 9 ft. Farther south across the landfall space, we might see storm surge values over 12 ft.
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