Superstorm Sandy at the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine

Research Reserve (JCNERR)

Gregg P. SakowiczJacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve

NERRS Technician Training Workshop12-14 February 2013

Superstorm Sandy

• Landfall Monday October 29th, 2012 at 7PM in Atlantic City, NJ.

• Second-largest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record (Hurricane Olga set the record in 2001)

• Strengthened under –PNA

• Took a very atypical path due to a strong –NAO

PNA (Pacific/North American Teleconnection Pattern)

• Associated with the strength and location of the East Asian Jet Stream

• Affects movement of weather systems and development of tropical systems

+PNA(exaggerated for illustrative purposes)

Cold air

tropicaldevelopmenthindered

H

-PNA(exaggerated for illustrative purposes)

Warm air

tropicaldevelopmentsupported

L

Image credit: NOAA Climate Prediction Center

North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)

• Controls strength and direction of Westerly winds and storm tracks across North Atlantic

• +NAO leads to increased westerly winds, Arctic air corralled at high latitudes

• -NAO suppresses westerly winds, causes Jet Stream to meander, and sets up conditions for a “blocking high” over Greenland

+NAO(exaggerated for illustrative purposes)

systems movequickly, offshore

BermudaHigh

-NAO(exaggerated for illustrative purposes)

systems pushed towards coastand strengthen

BlockingHigh

How did the PNA and NAO interact with Sandy?

• A -PNA set up conditions for tropical development

• Conditions associated with -NAO blocked escape and pushed her towards the Eastern Seaboard

Hurricane vs. Superstorm Designation

• Hurricane Sandy (Cat 1) hybridized with a Nor’easter developing over the Northeastern seaboard and went “extratropical”

– “Warm core” vs. “cold core”– Similar mechanism as 1991 “Perfect Storm”

• Despite this reclassification, barometric pressure (940mmHg) was characteristic of a Category 3 or 4 hurricane

• Winds did not significantly weaken and storm actually grew before making landfall

Why Was Damage So Severe?

• Size of storm maximized surge

• Track of storm maximized surge

• Maximum surge arrived with high-tide under full moon

• Pressure-driven storm surge magnified by low bp

• Debris and jetsam caused mechanical damage

• Over-confidence (“The Irene-effect”)

• Declassification confused public and officials

Why Was Damage So Severe?(continued)

• Rain runoff stacked more water on top of surge in bays

• Wind strength created significant waves even in sheltered waters

• Wind-shift to SSW after eye passage drove water into bayside communities and South-facing corners and coves in bays

• Etc. etc. etc.

• Call to evacuate was delayed (in my opinion)

NOAA’s GFS model vs. the others

Sandy in the JCNERR

As seen through SWMP

(System-Wide Monitoring Program)

Nacote Creek Weather Station

• The NC weather station captured Sandy’s effects and survived the storm

• Recorded barometric pressure of 946mmHg

• Peak wind speed of 25.6m/s (57.3mph)

• Rainfall high in SNJ, less northward

Wind Speed

Four days

Rainfall

Four days

Rainfall

= 138.2 mm

= 125.0 mm

Water-Quality Stations

• All 4 station datasondes survived(ish) the storm

• Telemetry at B6 transmitted data live through the event

• Telemetry station at NE was lost

Water Quality Stations

• Sandy’s surge stacked the following water ON TOP OF the already-high tides at each station:

– Buoy 126: 1.3m (4.3ft.)– Buoy 139: 1.2m (3.9ft.)– Chestnut Neck: 1.3m (4.3ft.)– Lower Bank: 2.0m (6.6ft.)

(All values approximate)

How did the JCNERR Fair?

• Relatively natural system

- Populated areas in striking contrast vs. natural

• Storm surge protected marsh surface

• Hard, vertical features and structures bore brunt of impact

• Some bank erosion and habitat loss

• Underwater effects yet to be studied

RUMFS

RUMFS

RUMFS

RUMFS

RUMFS

Holgate &Forsythe Reserve

Holgate &Forsythe Reserve

Holgate &Forsythe Reserve

Little Beach

Little Beach

Parson’s Clam Hatchery

Parson’s Clam Hatchery

Tuckerton Cove

Tuckerton Cove

Future Work

• Analysis of Satellite and LiDAR imagery

Future Work

Future Work

In Summary

• Preliminary assessment of the reserve is favorable

• The JCNERR’s SWMP stations captured Sandy as intended*

• Data will be useful in studies examining how the environment and organisms recover from this event

• Data are comparable to that collected at other NERRs

• Data are available for download at www.nerrsdata.org