Sea Surges

During a sea surge, water is pushed toward shore by the force of the strong winds associated with hurricanes in coastal areas. The storm surge combined with wave action (sea surge) can cause extensive damage to coastal highways, harbors, marinas, ships, and boats; damage oil and gas platforms; and cause severe coastal flooding along beaches, barrier islands, estuaries, and lakes on the coastal plain. The level of surge is determined by the slope of the continental shelf; thus, high sea surges develop where the coastal water depth gradually shallows toward shore. Global warming, which is raising the temperature of the sea surface, is also suggested as contributing to raising the sea level and subsequently increasing and extending the effects of the large waves that ride ...