Use of Sensors and Rapid Deployment Gages for Storm Surge Data from Coastal Storms U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Mid Atlantic Geospatial Transportation Users Group Meeting November 2, 2011 Dover, Delaware
Where Do You Want to Go Today? Intent of Storm Surge Sensors (SSS) Pilot Program History of SSS Pilot Program Roles & Responsibilities Designing a SSS Network Sensors & Housings Timeline of Storm Event Results
Intent of SSS Test Program Storm Surge Monitoring A USGS program to monitor the areal extent and time hydrograph of hurricane storm surge for better documentation and modeling using rapid-deployment gages
Intent of SSS Test Program Storm Surge Monitoring The data from this program is used to better calibrate storm surge models for more accurate surge forecasting caused by hurricanes. Traditional surge documentation was high water marks Never have collected continuous hydrographs of surge before
History of SSS Pilot Program Storm Surge Monitoring Idea created by staff at Ruston, LA Program Office following Katrina (2005) Quickly deployed for Rita (2005) in LA Wilma (2005) in FL Three SSS Centers created in 2006 (Ruston, Atlanta, and Orlando) Ernesto (2006) in Carolinas Deployed for Dean in South TX (2007) Formalized by line item for 2008 USGS budget Deployed for Hanna, Gustav and Ike (2008) No deployments in 2009 Maximum 1 small deployment in 2010
Roles and Responsibilities Chain of Command OSW Project Oversight OSW Storm Surge Centers Ruston, LA Atlanta, GA Orlando, FL Water Science Centers Director Ruston Atlanta Orlando TX LA MS AL VA NC SC GA FL PR
Roles and Responsibilities Communication & Coordination Prior to start of season OSW & SSC planning period Prior to landfall Assign SSC primary lead & teams Assign WSC Communications lead Deploy sensors After landfall Sensor Recovery and processing Cooperator/media outreach Post-storm Surveying (if needed) Data Analysis and Reporting Prep for next storm OSW Ruston Atlanta Orlando TX LA MS AL VA NC SC GA FL PR
Roles and Responsibilities Safety of Field Response Teams (FRTs) FRT will be at least 2 persons 1 from SSC, 1 from local WSC May be 2 persons from SSC or other SSCs Minimum 2 FRTs per storm Satellite and cellular phones Call CC after each deployment or hourly during deployment Evacuate the area 12 hours prior to landfall
SSS Network Design Types of Sites Pre-determined sites Selected from map and surge model analysis Some may be pre-reconned Some may have been deployed at previously Opportunistic sites Location determined during pre-deployment meeting and during deployment On-the-fly
SSS Network Design Site Selection Factors Sensor location in water column Expected surge height Variability in Projected Storm Path Datum Control Barrier Islands Accessibility Proximity to Population Centers Proximity to Existing Real-Time Gages Quality-Assurance of SSS Location of Barometric Pressure Sensors Local WSC needs
Sensors and Housings Sensor Types Onset HOBO pressure transducer (196 total) Uses USB docking station to download data Non-vented pressure transducer 0-30 foot range Internal battery must be factory replaced Used for 30-second data intervals Used as both BP and Surge sensors Insitu TROLL pressure sensor (32 total, RT & salinity) Non-vented pressure transducer 0-35.8 foot range SDI-12 Used for 2-second data intervals (wave height)
Housing Pipe Housing Cap Sensor Eye Bolt Ratchet Strap USGS Visual Identity Sticker Sensors and Housings Housing
Step-by-Step Pre-Deployment Meeting Sensor Deployment Landfall Stand-By Pre-Recovery Meeting Sensor Recovery Post-Storm Wrapup Timeline of Storm Event
Deployment-Irene http://wim.usgs.gov/stormtidemapper/stormtidemapper.html#
Deployment-Irene (Locally) 70 total sensors deployed 53 water level 17 barometric pressure 3 Rapid Deployment Gages 1 sites monitored riverine flooding 2-4 feet approximate maximum surge recorded
Deployment-Irene (Locally)
Results-Irene (SSS)
Results-Irene (SSS)
Results-Irene (SSS)
Results-Irene (SSS)
Results-Irene (SSS-Riverine)
Rapid Deployment Gage (RDG) Instrumentation Radar Gage Barometer Humidity/Temperature Rain gage Wind speed DCP 22
Results-Irene (Location of RDG s)
Results-Irene (RDG-Smyrna River)
Results-Irene (RDG-Indian River Inlet)
Summary Program has been activated for many storms since 2005 Standard Operations Plan in place for non-real-time sensor deployment All information online at: http:water.usgs.gov/osw/floods/2011_hirene/ Efforts have attracted numerous media including The Weather Channel and CNN
Questions? Anthony Tallman (302) 734-2506 x223 atallman@usgs.gov