![]() NOC scientists have developed computer models to predict the occurrence of storm surges. The estimated cost of the floods was £40–50 million, which is around £1 billion in current prices. In the Netherlands, 1800 lives were lost while in England and Scotland 326 people were killed. ![]() Flood defences were breached by huge waves and coastal towns in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent were devastated as seawater rushed into the streets. The worst natural disaster to affect the country in modern times was the North Sea storm surge of 31 January – 1 February 1953. Storm surges are often the additional factor required to exceed thresholds or to raise the water level so that powerful waves can inflict damage.Ĭoastal flooding around the UK is a threat to life as well as to economic and environmental assets. Coastal flooding occurs when some combination of high tide, storm surge and wave conditions overtops or breaches coastal defences. Storm surges can raise sea levels by up to 8m in tropical areas and by over 3m in European seas. More recently, in the USA Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy remind us of the power of these hazards. In 1970 a devastating storm surge was responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths in Bangladesh. Storm surges can last from hours to days and span hundreds of square kilometres, affecting coastlines worldwide and causing significant damage and loss of life. The same physics apply to storm surges caused by European weather systems (extra-tropical cyclones) and tropical cyclones (hurricanes). Low atmospheric pressure allows sea level to rise, and gale force winds combined with the Earth’s rotation force water towards the coastline. A storm surge is a large scale increase in sea level due to a storm.
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