Barrow Storm Reduction Study
Description
CHL, in support of the Alaska District, has performed an in-depth study to aid in the
design of shore protection for
Barrow, Alaska.
Storms during the open-water
Issue
season result in wave climates
and storm surge that actively
erode the coastline and threaten
the communities of Barrow,
Alaska. Design of shore
protection at Barrow requires a
thorough understanding of the
wind, wave, surge, partial free
ice coverage, and sediment
transport climates. Both the short-term response (time scales of individual storm events)
and long-term response (time scales on the order of the re-nourishment interval, years)
must be accurately characterized.
1. Field Data Collection: the deployment of ADCP gages in 5 and 10 meter water depths
Products
during ice-free open-water seasons of 2003 and 2004 to collect nearshore frequency-
direction wave spectra, current profiles, and water level data for verification of models. 2.
Wind and Wave Hindcast, 3. Nearshore Wave Transformation, 4. Wind-Driven Circulation
and Storm Surge: development of a 20-year deep-water and nearshore wave climatology
using numerical models WAM and STWAVE, respectively. WAM used winds for the
open-water months (approximately June through November) only. In addition, extreme
event information was developed for wave, storm surge, and run-up using historical storm
events occurring from 1954 through 2003. The numerical models WAM, STWAVE,
ADCIRC and SBEACH, were used to research the extreme events. 5. Sediment Transport
and Beach Fill Design: sediment transport modeling and analysis was performed with
SBEACH to estimate initial beach fill volumes, beach fill longevity and maintenance
requirements, and cross-shore beach profile evolution, both after placement and during
storms.
The ultimate goal is to provide a cost-effective beach fill design to protect the
Benefits
infrastructure in and around Barrow, Alaska.
This project is sponsored by the US Army Engineer District, Alaska.
Sponsors
Point of Contact
Dr. Ray Chapman at 601-634-3178 ( ),
The Coastal and Hydraulic Laboratory team members, Evans- Hamilton, Inc., and
Partners
Oceanweather, Inc.
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
11 April 2005
Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (Project/Mission Support)
www.erdc.usace.army.mil
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