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

• 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

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.