Northern Gulf of Mexico Storm Surge Simulations for Sea Level Rise Scenarios

This dataset contains high-resolution SWAN+ADCIRC model simulations of storm surge for the northern Gulf of Mexico, projecting conditions to the year 2100. It includes outputs for water surface elevation and inundation depth across 5 distinct sea level rise scenarios, from a 2000 baseline to a +2.0 meter increase. The data was produced by the NOAA NCCOS Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise (EESLR-NGOM) project and is hosted by NOAA NCEI.

Use Cases

• Comparing flood inundation depth across different sea level rise scenarios (Low, Intermediate-Low, Intermediate-High, High) for specific storm events.
• Analyzing maximum of maximums (MOMs) water surface elevation to identify worst-case flood zones under future climate conditions.
• Assessing coastal vulnerability by integrating modeled storm surge outputs with dynamic geophysical factors like salt marsh evolution and dune height change.

Strengths

• Employs a dynamic, high-resolution SWAN+ADCIRC model, which is more realistic than static 'bathtub' approaches for simulating storm surge.
• Covers 5 specific sea level rise scenarios (from +0.2m to +2.0m), enabling detailed comparative analysis of climate impacts.
• Includes two distinct data products: 'Storm Surge by Storm' (500 files, 29 GB) and 'Storm Surge Maximum of Maximums' (50 files, 13 GB), offering both event-specific and worst-case data.

Limitations

• Specific column names, row counts, and data formats are not detailed in the provided sources, limiting precise technical understanding.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date between sources: one lists 2026-03-05 and another lists 2017-08-31, creating uncertainty about data currency.

Provenance

Source

NOAA NCCOS Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Northern Gulf of Mexico (EESLR-NGOM) project.

Collection Method

Simulated using a high-resolution SWAN+ADCIRC model incorporating dynamic coastal processes and sea level rise projections.

Time Range

Projections for the year 2100, with a baseline from circa 2000.

Freshness

2026-03-05

Geography

Northern Gulf of Mexico, specifically Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle.