Progress and Recent Developments in Storm Surge Modeling

Abstract

The field of storm surge modeling has developed and matured considerably over the past 30 years. Several operational surge models have been implemented in Europe over the past decade. These operational advances have been accompanied by research into new areas, chiefly coupled surge-wave models and data assimilation, both of which are covered in this review. Surge-wave models attempt to provide more realistic model physics for the crucial area of air-sea interaction. Assimilation techniques use available data to generate improved numerical solutions, despite model inadequacies. The current activity in surge modeling and related areas is highlighted by the large proportion of recent papers cited in this work. Despite this activity, there is a general recognition that inadequate meteorological inputs remain the weak link in surge modeling. In addition, the advances in midlatitude modeling are not mirrored in the tropics. This is largely due to difficulties in predicting the paths and properties of tropical storms, but it also serves to emphasize the importance that has been attached to storm surge modeling in Europe.