A comprehensive data set for tropical cyclone storm surge‐induced inundation for the east coast of India

• Published in: International journal of climatology 2018-01, Vol.38 (1), p.403-419
• Main Authors: Sahoo, Bishnupriya, Bhaskaran, Prasad K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angle of attack; Climate change; climate projection; Climatology; Coastal effects; Coastal flooding; Coastal geomorphology; Coastal management; Coastal zone; Coastal zone management; Coasts; Correlation analysis; Cyclones; Data; Datasets; Direction; Disaster management; east coast of India; Emergency management; Emergency preparedness; Flooding; Geomorphology; Height; Historical account; Hurricanes; Hydrologic data; inundation; Motivation; Natural disasters; Regions; Storm data; storm surge data set; Storm surges; Storms; synthetic tracks; Tidal waves; Tides; Tropical climate; Tropical cyclones; Wind speed
• ISSN: 0899-8418; 1097-0088
• DOI: 10.1002/joc.5184

ABSTRACT The Indian Ocean region is one among the six major cyclone prone regions in the world with an annual average of about five to six cyclones. Prior studies conducted for this region are location‐specific and confined to storm surge characteristic and associated inundation. A detailed study to develop precomputed scenarios on storm surge and inundation maps for the entire Indian coast is still lacking for emergency preparedness. An effort in this direction can drastically reduce preparedness time in the eventuality of a real cyclone approaching its landfall location for effective coastal zone management measures. The present study is a motivation in this direction leading to the generation of a comprehensive data set on storm surges and associated coastal flooding for entire Odisha coast located in the east coast of India and that can be extended to other coastal regions as well. Historically, the Odisha State experiences highest number of cyclone strikes with the highest risk of exposure to storm surge and inundation. The novelty of this study is in the preparation of a comprehensive storm data set using synthetic tracks simulated with various combinations of landfall location, angle of attack, intensity, and forward translation speed. It also generates possible storm surge and inundation associated with intensified cyclones expected in a changing climate scenario. Further, the study also correlates power dissipation index with storm tide all along this coast. The distribution of surge height follows a third‐order polynomial to wind speed. An in‐depth analysis was also carried out to understand the characteristics of storm surge height and extent of coastal inundation with respect to coastal geomorphology, angle of attack, and varying forward speed of cyclones. The authors believe that information and analysis from this comprehensive data set will have immense potential in understanding the impacts from tropical cyclone climatology and disaster management applications. Yearly frequency of (a) cyclones and depressions, (b) very severe cyclonic storms in the north Indian Ocean, (c) depressions, cyclones and severe cyclonic storms and (d) severe cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal.