The purpose of the research is to develop a storm surge model for the YK Delta area and to apply it to determine biological impacts of storm surges in the current and future climates. This research is needed as storm surges are expected to be more frequent and more severe in the YK Delta area due to climate change and sea level rise. The biological impacts in the YK Delta due to the changed storm surges could be extreme. With the model, we will study 10 storms over the 1980 – 2011 time period. Model output will be used to determine the recurrence interval for the individual storms. With the model output from individual storms, an inundation index (time-integral of water level during a storm) will be calculated. Also, based on the individual storm inundation indices and the storm recurrence interval, an annual inundation index will be computed. Calculations will be repeated for a number of selected sea level rise scenarios. All of the data will be provided to collaborator to project partner Sarah Saalfeld who will examine the biological impacts of the storm surges.
