Spatio-temporal Characteristics of Storm Surge Events in the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

A total of 188 typhoons (about 3.2 annually) have affected the Korean Peninsula (KP) from 1959 to 2016 by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). This study investigated the spatio-temporal characteristics of storm surge events in the KP for 135 typhoons using data from tidal gauges maintained by the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA). Because about 50 typhoons have made landfall on the south and west coasts of KP, storm surge records are concentrated along these coasts. For example, the highest number of storm surge observation records (35) came from the city of Mokpo on the southwestern coast. The highest recorded storm surge height was 2.1 mat Masan, on the south coast, during typhoon MAEMI (0314); the storm surge occurred during high tide, causing tremendous damage. A total of 239 surge heights over 0.5 m were recorded in the KP, and maximum storm surge heights over 1 m were recorded 21 times. About 31 % of storm surges occurred in the tidal flood phase, based on limited records. When typhoon BOLAVEN moved along the west coast in 2015, most tidal gauges showed that negative surges occurred when BOLAVEN approached, a smaller surge occurred as the typhoon's center neared the stations, then the maximum surge height was recorded after BOLAVEN passed by.