Effects of Storm Surges on the Beaufort Sea Coast, Northern Alaska

In 1970, a major storm surge caused by gale-force westerly winds inundated low-lying tundra plains and deltas as far as 5000 m inland and left a driftwood line as much as 3.4 m above normal sea level along the Beaufort Sea coast of Alaska. The height of the surge followed a predictable pattern and w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ARCTIC
Main Authors: Reimnitz, Erk, Maurer, Douglas K.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1979
Subjects:
Coast changes
Erosion
Shorelines
Storm surges
Alaska
Northern
Alaskan waters
Arctic
Beaufort Sea
north slope
Tundra
Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65683
Description
Summary:In 1970, a major storm surge caused by gale-force westerly winds inundated low-lying tundra plains and deltas as far as 5000 m inland and left a driftwood line as much as 3.4 m above normal sea level along the Beaufort Sea coast of Alaska. The height of the surge followed a predictable pattern and was highest along windward-facing shorelines. Coastal retreat and thermoerosion are greatly accelerated on such west-facing shores with eastward sediment transport opposite to normal littoral drift. Evidence suggests an approximate 100-year recurrence interval for similar surges, with potential for damaging the developing oil fields on the North Slope.

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