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Coastal Storms ProgramThe Oregon State University Sea Grant Extension program, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Washington Sea Grant, connects residents and stakeholders in the coastal areas of Oregon and SW Washington with new weather and storm related tools. The goal of the Coastal Storms Program (CSP) is to reduce the loss of life, and negative impacts on coastal property and the environment due to severe coastal storms. Toward this end, NOAA has funded several projects that will improve the prediction of, preparation for, and recovery from, coastal storms. Sea Grant Extension is providing outreach and education about the program to stakeholders, and working with NOAA project teams to ensure that local people know about the new tools and how to use them. The new investments include: a hydrodynamic model of the Columbia River, a near-shore wave prediction model, a new buoy and other weather observation instruments, a toxicological assessment of storm runoff and it's impact on fish, environmental sensitivity index maps highlighting critical habitats in the region, and computer software for assessing local risk and vulnerability to flooding created by coastal storms. A summary of selected projects is provided below. More information is available at NOAA's website Coastal Storms Program PNW Pilot A New Weather Buoy A state-of-the-art weather buoy was deployed in November at a location about 70 miles west of Tillamook Bay, in a water depth over 7300 feet. This buoy is loaded with meteorological and oceanic data instruments. This is one of the first buoys of its kind to transmit data via iridium satellite and will measure standard data (wind speed, direction, air temp, relative humidity) and ocean data (water temps, waves), plus 10-minute continuous winds, directional waves, and ocean currents. This buoy will increase the accuracy of National Weather Service forecasts for the marine and coastal waters. The buoy proved especially useful during the winter of 2004-2005 when 20-plus foot waves from a storm ripped from their moorings the other two near-shore buoys in the area. Buoy 46089 served as the only working weather buoy along the north Oregon coast for three months. Buoy 46089 Current Data Report Additional Weather Observations Selected Water Level Stations on the Columbia River will be upgraded with water-level sensors, and meterological packages that includes sensors for wind speed, direction, gusts, air temperature and barometric pressure, and water temperature and conductivity sensors. They will provide hourly transmissions of 6-minute water level, and hourly meteorological observations. These enhancements provide for a denser network of water level and surface measurements which will increase the accuracy of forecasts and the safety of vessels. A new atmospheric Wind Profiler was installed at the Astoria airport by the NOAA Environmental Technology Lab. The profiler monitors the wind conditions aloft that affect coastal weather--especially land-falllng storms. The profiler is directly useful to aviators in the area, and improves the overall accuracy of NWS forcasts. New CSP Weather Profiler A Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS) will be established at the Port of Portland in August. This is a navigational safety system that is linked to real time data in the channel. PORTS web page Near Shore Wave Model The National Weather Service (NWS) is developing a computer model of the near shore wave dynamics along the Washington and Oregon Coast. This demonstration project will test the ability of the model to improve the accuracy of the coastal weather and bar forecasts. The goal of the project is to reduce the loss of life, personal injury, and damage to the economy. Local decisions will be improved through increased lead-time and accuracy of weather warnings and forecasts, and the improved predictability of the onset, duration and impact of severe weather events. Improved near-shore wave forecasts are of critical importance to the safety of commercial and recreational mariners. Columbia River Circulation Model A three-dimensional computer model of the Columbia River and Mouth was recently developed by the Oregon Graduate Institute. The CSP project team will transfer, retrofit, and validate the OGI model scripts in accordance with National Ocean Service standards. This project will thus convert a research model into a product for use by the general public. The results from the model will provide real-time and forecasted water levels, currents, temperature, and salinity. Hourly nowcasts and regular short-term (24-48 hour) forecasts will be particularly useful to navigators, fishermen, hazardous spill responders, and search and rescue teams in the area. Here is a link to a similar model CORIE Hydro-dynamic Model Ecotoxicological Assessment of Storm Runoff on Salmon This project will focus on the impacts on fish from the surge of chemical runoff that occurs in developed areas during large storm events. Research will be conducted on storm water quality and its impact on fish health. Particular attention is being paid to the impact of these toxins on pre-spawn female coho salmon in restored urban watersheds. (Follow the NW Fisheries link below to view movie clips of salmon dying within minutes of entering "restored" urban streams) A risk assessment will be undertaken to identify the chemicals,and a short list of 3 chemicals will be selected for further examination. The risk assessments will be available on the web. The fate and transport of these contaminants will be modelled to characterize the movement and potential exposure to these chemicals on fish and invertibrates. Biological assays will beused to assess the effects of the chemicals most likely to be elevated during and after storms. Concentrations of contaminants that exceed thresholds for adverse effects will be identified and used to determine any mitigative actions. Oregon Coastal InundationTool This project comprises a user-friendly GIS tool that depicts the most vulnerable areas to flooding caused by coastal storms. The CSP demonstration project focuses on the Netarts, OR littoral cell. It appears as a special climate and hazards module with the Oregon Coastal Atlas. This tool provide visualizations of near real-time coastal inundation, water level, and wave information. It will directly benefit planning and permitting agencies, transportation managers, emergency response agencies, and the public. Coastal Oregon Inundation Visualization Tool Oregon Coastal Atlas Environmental Sensitivity Index Maps of the Columbia River Maps have been pdated for the Columbia River indicating specific sites considered environmentally sensitive to oil spills and and toxic hazards. These maps are available on CD, and will soon be on-line. The data is available for incorporation into your existing GIS map layers, or you can simply view the maps as a PDF file. These data and maps have broad usefulness to environmental organizations and local government officials, but they are particularly useful for local hazardous spill responders to use when prioritizing clean-up activities. ESI map website CSI Web Links Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Tool (RVAT) Weather and Storms National Weather Service, Portland Coastal Hazards Rip Current Safety (NOAA) Tsunami Preparedness Pat's Tsunami Awareness Powerpoint Regional Web Sites NANOOS (Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems) Sea Grant Sites Oregon Sea Grant NOAA Sites NOAA Coastal Services Center
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