Coastal Processes and Influence on Damage to Urban Structures during Hurricane Irma (St-Martin & St-Barthélemy, French West Indies)
This study aims to better understand coastal processes associated with extreme cyclonic events through the study of the coastal changes, flooding and damage that resulted from the passage of a category 5 hurricane (Irma) on 6 September 2017 over the islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthél...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/7/7/215 |
| _version_ | 1818724742127943680 |
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| author | Tony Rey Frédéric Leone Thomas Candela Ali Belmadani Philippe Palany Yann Krien Raphael Cécé Monique Gherardi Matthieu Péroche Narcisse Zahibo |
| author_facet | Tony Rey Frédéric Leone Thomas Candela Ali Belmadani Philippe Palany Yann Krien Raphael Cécé Monique Gherardi Matthieu Péroche Narcisse Zahibo |
| author_sort | Tony Rey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aims to better understand coastal processes associated with extreme cyclonic events through the study of the coastal changes, flooding and damage that resulted from the passage of a category 5 hurricane (Irma) on 6 September 2017 over the islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy in the Lesser Antilles. Hurricane Irma was contextualized from tropical cyclone track data and local weather observations collected by Météo-France, as well as high-resolution numerical modelling. Field work involved the study of accretion coasts through qualitative observations, topo-morphological and sedimentary surveys, as well as image acquisition with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surveys during two trips that were made 2 and 8 months after the catastrophe. Wave propagation and flood numerical models are presented and compared to field data. Our field analysis also reports on the devastating impacts of storm surges and waves, which reached 4 and 10 meters height, respectively, especially along east-facing shores. The approaches reveal a variety of morpho-sedimentary responses over both natural and highly urbanized coasts. The analysis shows the effects of coastal structures and streets on flow channeling, on the amplification of some erosion types, and on water level increase. Positive spatial correlation is found between damage intensity and marine flood depth. The signatures of ocean-induced damage are clear and tend to validate the relevance of the intensity scale used in this study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:31:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1b2808e73e8b4112884e7bd547c358aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:31:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-1b2808e73e8b4112884e7bd547c358aa2022-12-21T21:31:51ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122019-07-017721510.3390/jmse7070215jmse7070215Coastal Processes and Influence on Damage to Urban Structures during Hurricane Irma (St-Martin & St-Barthélemy, French West Indies)Tony Rey0Frédéric Leone1Thomas Candela2Ali Belmadani3Philippe Palany4Yann Krien5Raphael Cécé6Monique Gherardi7Matthieu Péroche8Narcisse Zahibo9UMR GRED, University Paul-Valéry-Montpellier, CEDEX 5, 3–34199 Montpellier, FranceUMR GRED, University Paul-Valéry-Montpellier, CEDEX 5, 3–34199 Montpellier, FranceUMR GRED, University Paul-Valéry-Montpellier, CEDEX 5, 3–34199 Montpellier, FranceDIRAG, Météo-France–Fort-de-France CEDEX, 97262 Martinique, FranceDIRAG, Météo-France–Fort-de-France CEDEX, 97262 Martinique, FranceLARGE, University of the French West Indies, Pointe à Pitre, 97157 Guadeloupe, FranceLARGE, University of the French West Indies, Pointe à Pitre, 97157 Guadeloupe, FranceUMR GRED, University Paul-Valéry-Montpellier, CEDEX 5, 3–34199 Montpellier, FranceUMR GRED, University Paul-Valéry-Montpellier, CEDEX 5, 3–34199 Montpellier, FranceLARGE, University of the French West Indies, Pointe à Pitre, 97157 Guadeloupe, FranceThis study aims to better understand coastal processes associated with extreme cyclonic events through the study of the coastal changes, flooding and damage that resulted from the passage of a category 5 hurricane (Irma) on 6 September 2017 over the islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy in the Lesser Antilles. Hurricane Irma was contextualized from tropical cyclone track data and local weather observations collected by Météo-France, as well as high-resolution numerical modelling. Field work involved the study of accretion coasts through qualitative observations, topo-morphological and sedimentary surveys, as well as image acquisition with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surveys during two trips that were made 2 and 8 months after the catastrophe. Wave propagation and flood numerical models are presented and compared to field data. Our field analysis also reports on the devastating impacts of storm surges and waves, which reached 4 and 10 meters height, respectively, especially along east-facing shores. The approaches reveal a variety of morpho-sedimentary responses over both natural and highly urbanized coasts. The analysis shows the effects of coastal structures and streets on flow channeling, on the amplification of some erosion types, and on water level increase. Positive spatial correlation is found between damage intensity and marine flood depth. The signatures of ocean-induced damage are clear and tend to validate the relevance of the intensity scale used in this study.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/7/7/215Hurricane IrmaLesser Antillesstorm surgedamagecoastal change |
| spellingShingle | Tony Rey Frédéric Leone Thomas Candela Ali Belmadani Philippe Palany Yann Krien Raphael Cécé Monique Gherardi Matthieu Péroche Narcisse Zahibo Coastal Processes and Influence on Damage to Urban Structures during Hurricane Irma (St-Martin & St-Barthélemy, French West Indies) Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Hurricane Irma Lesser Antilles storm surge damage coastal change |
| title | Coastal Processes and Influence on Damage to Urban Structures during Hurricane Irma (St-Martin & St-Barthélemy, French West Indies) |
| title_full | Coastal Processes and Influence on Damage to Urban Structures during Hurricane Irma (St-Martin & St-Barthélemy, French West Indies) |
| title_fullStr | Coastal Processes and Influence on Damage to Urban Structures during Hurricane Irma (St-Martin & St-Barthélemy, French West Indies) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coastal Processes and Influence on Damage to Urban Structures during Hurricane Irma (St-Martin & St-Barthélemy, French West Indies) |
| title_short | Coastal Processes and Influence on Damage to Urban Structures during Hurricane Irma (St-Martin & St-Barthélemy, French West Indies) |
| title_sort | coastal processes and influence on damage to urban structures during hurricane irma st martin amp st barthelemy french west indies |
| topic | Hurricane Irma Lesser Antilles storm surge damage coastal change |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/7/7/215 |
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