![]() Storm Surges and Coastal Communities Tropical cyclones, and the storm surges they generate, are a serious hazard for coastal areas in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The slope of the land just off the coast also plays a part: Water will more easily flood a shallow coast than a steep one. The water level can reach as high as 10 meters (33 feet) if the storm surge happens at the same time as high tide. More factors contribute to the strength of a storm surge as the dome of water comes ashore. This pushes down the water in the outer parts of the storm, causing the water to bulge at the eye and eye wall-where the winds have helped add to the rise in sea level. The pressure is higher at the edges of a cyclone than it is at the center. Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air in the Earth’s atmosphere. Another factor contributing to storm surge is atmospheric pressure. In the Southern Hemisphere, the surge will be largest in the left-forward part of the cyclone. If a cyclone develops in the Northern Hemisphere, the surge will be largest in the right-forward part of the storm. The rotation of the Earth causes winds to move toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere-a phenomenon known as the Coriolis effect. In addition, water is pushed in the direction the winds are blowing. The water level rises where the winds are strongest. A storm surge is primarily caused by the relationship between the winds and the ocean’s surface. Surrounding the eye wall are clouds that spiral outward, called spiraling rain bands. The eye is surrounded by a ring of clouds called the eye wall, where the winds are strongest. The center of a cyclone is called the eye. Tropical cyclones are circular storms characterized by high winds and heavy rainfall. This makes storm surges very dangerous for coastal regions. The storms produce strong winds that push the water into shore, which can lead to flooding. ![]() A storm surge is a rise in sea level that occurs during tropical cyclones, intense storms also known as typhoons or hurricanes.
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