Lesson Title: Demonstrating the Effects of
Storm Surge in Shallow and Deep Waters.
Grade Level: 11-12
Prepared by: Molly Nation
Subject Area(s): Marine Science
Associated with: Physics Unit
Goal: To investigate and simulate erosion of barrier islands by waves and surge.
Time Required: 1 class period (beginning and end of experiment)
Background
The vulnerability of the coastal zone to storm surges and waves depends on land subsidence,
changes in storminess, and sea-level rise (see Supplementary Material). Along the North
American East Coast, although there has been no significant long-term change in storm
climatology, storm-surge impacts have increased due to regional sea-level rise (Zhang et al.,
2000). The U.S. Gulf Coast is particularly vulnerable to hurricane surges due to low elevation
and relative sea-level rise (up to 1 cm/yr along parts of the Louisiana coast), only part of which
is climate-related (Penland et al., 2005). Hurricane Katrina, in August 2005, generated surges
over 4 m, with catastrophic consequences (NOAA, 2005). In Venice, Italy, the frequency of
surges has averaged around 2 per year since the mid-1960s, compared with only 0.19 surges
per year between 1830 and 1930, with land subsidence, which was exacerbated by
groundwater pumping between 1930 and 1970 (Carminati et al., 2005), and expanded sealagoon interactions (due to channel dredging) playing a greater role than global sea-level rise
(Camuffo and Stararo, 2004). Surges have shown a slight decrease in Brittany, France, in recent
decades, largely due to changes in wind patterns (Pirazzoli et al., 2004).
Apparent global increases in extreme high water levels since 1975 are related to mean sea-level
rise and to large-scale inter-decadal climate variability (Woodworth and Blackman, 2004). Wave
height increases have been documented in the north-east Atlantic Ocean (Woolf et al., 2002),
along the US Pacific North-west coast (Allan and Komar, 2006) and in the Maldives (Woodworth
and Blackman, 2004), but decreases have been found in some areas of the Mediterranean from
1958 to 2001 (Lionello, 2005; Lionello and Sanna, 2005). (Source: IPCC)
Learning Objectives:
1. Students will be able to define Storm Surge.
2. Students will be able to understand and apply a simulation of the effects of storm
surge in shallow and deep waters.
3. Students will understand why is important to understand the effects of storm surge
in the Tampa Bay Area.
4. Students will be able to link Storm Surge and Climate Change as it relates to Sea
Level Rise.
5. Students will be able to explain the relationship between severe weather and storm
surge, as it relates to severe weather and climate change.
Procedure:
Class discussion of the background information provided. Teacher will lead discussion
about the depth of Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and it’s susceptibility to Storm Surge
due to severe weather.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Fill the tray with water to the “Beach Line” (Where the water meets the sand)
Align the figurines (People, buildings, etc.) on the “Beach Line”
Place the hair dryer on low **Use Extreme Caution**
Making sure to measure the distance place, the hair dryer 20cm away from the edge
of the tray
5. Record your observations
6. Repeat simulation by adding more water the water tray to simulate a deeper ocean
basin. (Be sure to place hair dryer 20cm away from the edge)
7. Record your observations
Materials:
-
Plastic Tray
Sand
Modeling figures
(Legos, Toys, Etc)
Water
Ruler
Hair Dryer or Fan
Extension: Students can investigate the affects of water level, island shape, and waves and
surges by varying the following parameters:
1. Design your wave basin:
a. deep basin (more water in the basin)
b. shallow basin (less water)
2. Design your barrier island:
a. Short and wide island with steep slope for deep basin
b. Short and wide island with gentle slope for shallow basin
c. Long and narrow island with steep slope for deep basin
d. Long and narrow island with gentle slope for shallow basin
3. Design your wave and surge:
a. Large wave and surge (maximum speed of the fan, and with 2 fans)
b. Medium wave and surge (maximum speed of the fan, 1 fan)
c. Low wave and surge (low speed of the fan, l fan)
To observe and measure:
1) The initial length and height of the barrier island.
2) The final length, shape, and height of the barrier island.
3) Discuss the barrier island change as related to the water depth, wave height, and
surge.
Lesson Title: Demonstrating the Effects
of Storm Surge in Shallow and Deep
Waters.
Record your Observations for the “Shallow Water”:
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Record your Observations for the “Deep Water”:
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What happened in the “Shallow Waters?” versus “Deep Waters?
a. Why do you think this happened?
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Conclusions and Data Analysis:
1) Based on what you know about the Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, how would
increased severe weather, due to climate change affect our area?
2) How can we decrease the threat of storm surge in our area?
a. Name three behavioral changes that YOU can make
b. Name three changes to our shoreline that can protect against storm
surge in our area.