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Modeling wave-surge effects on barrier-island breaching in St. Joseph Peninsula during Hurricane Michael

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Abstract

Better understanding the effects of hurricane waves and storm surges on barrier-island breaching is important for both scientific research and coastal hazard mitigations. In this study, the 2D non-hydrostatic Xbeach model has been applied to investigate interactions of hurricane wave, storm surge, and morphological processes in the case study of St. Joseph Peninsula during Category 5 Hurricane Michael. Model validations show a 2.45% average error and the 0.88 skill score between modeled and observed high water marks and bed elevations, respectively. Analysis of spatial distributions of currents and water levels indicates that a narrow area was overtopped at peak storm surge and wave. The gap was then quickly enlarged as the breaching area by wave-surge actions. By investigating foredune and peak dune along the central axis of breaching area, it shows that the foredune erosion on the ocean-side by wave-surge-current directly lead to the breach of the peak dune area in the barrier island. The Froude number shows a strong correlation with quick erosion of the barrier, indicating wave-surge supercritical flow is one of the major factors causing the barrier breaching. Results of cross sections of bed elevations and instantaneous surge-wave profiles at different storm surge stages reveal the evolution of the barrier-island breach. Results from this study provide valuable references for coastal hazard mitigation and resilience communities.

Highlights

  • Application of non-hydrostatic Xbeach model reveals barrier-island breaching process and wave-surge-barrier interactions.

  • Model validations show a 2.45% average error and the 0.88 skill score for high water marks and bed elevations, respectively.

  • The breach started with a narrow gap overtopped in the peak of storm surge and was then quickly enlarged by wave-surge actions.

  • Wave-surge induced supercritical flow is one of the major factors accelerating the barrier breaching.

  • Foredune erosion by wave-surge-current is another factor that accelerates the breach of the barrier island.

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Funding

This study was supported in-part by National Science Foundation (US) under award #1382068.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA

    Mengdi Ma, Wenrui Huang & Sungmoon Jung

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Linoj Vijayan

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Ma, M., Huang, W., Vijayan, L. et al. Modeling wave-surge effects on barrier-island breaching in St. Joseph Peninsula during Hurricane Michael. Nat Hazards (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-024-06768-x

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