Storm Surge Simulation using Wave-Tide-Surge Coupled Model due to the Typhoon Haiyan

Abstract

The numerical simulations for storm surge and wind waves using unstructured meshsystem was conducted to the Super-typhoon Haiyan(Yolanda) which broughtrecord-breaking meteorological forcing, surface wind of 65 m/s and central pressureof 895 hPa at its maximum intensity in November 2013. An integrally coupledtide-surge-wave model using the identical and homogeneous mesh of unstructuredgrid system was used for correct resolving of the physics of tide-wave-surgeinteraction in both models. The total model domain widely covers the South ChinaSea and the North West Pacific Ocean including the Philippines Sea, and the meshescomposed by consideration of water depth and geometry gradient. We carried out thereal time tide simulation for the Philippines Sea using the blended storm wind andpressure generated by Holland wind model and NCEP data, and then it compared withobservation data from NAMRIA. Generally, the calculated water elevations are lowerthan observations but reasonable results in the Leyte Gulf (the location is well knownby General MacArthur landing point of the battle of the Leyte Gulf,of 895 hPa at its maximum intensity in November 2013. An integrally coupledtide-surge-wave model using the identical and homogeneous mesh of unstructuredgrid system was used for correct resolving of the physics of tide-wave-surgeinteraction in both models. The total model domain widely covers the South ChinaSea and the North West Pacific Ocean including the Philippines Sea, and the meshescomposed by consideration of water depth and geometry gradient. We carried out thereal time tide simulation for the Philippines Sea using the blended storm wind andpressure generated by Holland wind model and NCEP data, and then it compared withobservation data from NAMRIA. Generally, the calculated water elevations are lowerthan observations but reasonable results in the Leyte Gulf (the location is well knownby General MacArthur landing point of the battle of the Leyte Gulf,