Contribution of relative sea-level rise to historical hurricane flooding in New York City
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Material Information

Title:
Contribution of relative sea-level rise to historical hurricane flooding in New York City
Series Title:
Journal of Quaternary Science Rapid Communication
Creator:
Kemp, Andrew C.
Horotn, Benjamin P.
Publisher:
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Climate Change ( lcsh )
Sea Level Rise ( lcsh )
Hurricanes ( lcsh )
New York (N.Y.) ( lcsh )

Notes

Abstract:
Flooding during hurricanes is a hazard for New York City. Flood height is determined by storm surge characteristics, timing (high or low tide) and relative sea-level (RSL) change. The contribution from these factors is estimated for seven historical hurricanes (1788–2012) that caused flooding in New York City. Measurements from The Battery tide gauge and historical accounts are supplemented with a RSL reconstruction from Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. RSL was reconstructed from foraminifera preserved in salt-marsh sediment that was dated using marker horizons of lead and copper pollution and 137Cs activity. Between the 1788 hurricane and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, RSL rose by 56 cm, including 15 cm from glacio-isostatic adjustment. Storm surge characteristics and timing with respect to astronomical tides remain the dominant factors in determining flood height. However, RSL rise will raise the base level for flood heights in New York City and exacerbate flooding caused by future hurricanes. Copyright # 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ( English )

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
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Sea Level Rise