Date of Award

Spring 5-15-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Marine Science

College

College of Science

First Advisor

Paul T. Gayes

Abstract/Description

This study made use of the storm surge model in Peng, Xie, and Pietrafesa (2004) and Xia et al. (2004), to predict coastal inundation along northern South Carolina and southern North Carolina as sea level rises. Hurricane Hazel (1954) was used as the reference hurricane in this study, which made landfall at 33.85°N, 78.57°W, as a category 4 hurricane. Data was plotted and analyzed using Matlab, to produce inundation maps for four sea level rises (0.2m, 0.6m, 1.0m, and 2.0m). The greatest net storm surge was produced during a 2m sea level rise, which in return caused the greatest amount of inundation. However, inundations caused by different sea level rises were not drastically different. It is hypothesized that the minor difference between sea level rise and the resulting inundation is due to the inland topography of South Carolina and North Carolina. The greatest inundation for all four sea level rises occurred along the shores of Winyah Bay and Hogs Inlet, SC and Oak Island, NC. The results for this study may be used to implement hurricane evacuation plans, building restrictions, city plans (such as drainage, beach nourishment, etc.), and other community decisions.

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