Monitoring the Ups and Downs: Hurricane Irene Storm Surge Sampling Efforts

摘要

Background/Objectives. An intensive multimedia and multidisciplinary field effort isbeing conducted as part of a remedial investigation (RI) of an estuarine Superfund site inNew Jersey. Site media being investigated include air, biota, vegetation, sediment andwater; requiring experts in a wide range of environmental practices. A goal of Phase 2 RIwas to target a storm which would create a tidal surge. The numerous challenges of thisstorm-related monitoring would require meticulous weather monitoring, planning, thecooperation of numerous team members and some luck. In late August of 2011 such anopportunity began to emerge first as a tropical storm. Within days Hurricane Irene wasnamed and model predictions indicated northeastern U.S. coastal areas would likely beimpacted. In the end, Hurricane Irene would indeed bear down upon the BCSA. It wouldbe the first hurricane to make landfall in New Jersey since 1903. As a Category 1 hurricane,Irene had maximum wind speeds of 80 mph and in less than 24 hours, dumped anepic 8.2 inches of rainfall over the BCSA. “Irene” was soon retired by the World MeteorologicalOrganization from the list of Atlantic Basin hurricane names due to the damageand fatalities; in the U.S.: 41 deaths and $15-19B in damage, ranking it among the mostcostly Atlantic hurricanes.Approach/Activities. The USEPA approved Work Plan specified a wide range of hydrodynamicand surface water field investigations be conducted during a tidal surge. Hydrodynamicand sediment transport monitoring included: velocity and water qualitymonitoring at 5 moored stations and at 2 cross-channel transects; suspended solids sampling;and high-frequency, near-bed monitoring of velocities and suspended solids. Surfacewater data collection efforts targeted both the tidal surge and recession, and includedboth manual and automated sampling components. Manual samples were collected at 2 ofthe moored stations while automated sampling included all 5 of the moored stations. Additionally,velocity and level were monitored within 5 upland tributaries. Mobilization forthe approaching hurricane had to consider the logistics of travel, equipment preparationand deployment, and most importantly staff safety. Team members prepared specifichealth and safety guidance while continually monitoring weather forecasts and tidalgauges for the mobilization trigger.Results/Lessons Learned. Monitoring began 5 days after Hurricane Irene was identified.Working in extreme high wind, heavy rain, and high velocity conditions, field staff successfullycompleted the prescribed hydrodynamic transecting while concurrently collecting56 manual surface water samples, 15 automated samples and thousands of continuous