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Lindner, B.L.; Holden, W.; Neuhauser, A., and Evsich, R., 2020. Climatology of tropical cyclone strikes along the southeastern coastline of the United States. Journal of Coastal Research, 36(6), 1162–1177. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. It has been theorized that tropical cyclones originating in or passing through the Gulf of Mexico (hereafter referred to as GOM tropical cyclones) may significantly impact communities along the Atlantic coast of the southeastern United States. To explore this hypothesis, site-specific climatologies were compiled using National Hurricane Center records of tropical cyclones that passed within 139 km of either Savannah, Georgia, or Wilmington, North Carolina, during the years 1851–2018. Return periods for tropical cyclones are longer for Savannah than for Wilmington, particularly for intense hurricanes. Intense GOM hurricanes are weakened by land interaction, which would result in longer return periods. A secondary maximum in the number of tropical storms early in hurricane season is more pronounced with proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, which is again consistent with the contribution from GOM tropical cyclones. Moreover, the percentage of tropical cyclones that passed near Savannah but did not make landfall is higher than that for Wilmington, again an indication of the significance of GOM tropical cyclones. Further evidence of the influence of GOM tropical cyclones is seen in the difference in approach angle and translational velocity between tropical storms and hurricanes. In addition, translational velocities for tropical cyclones increase with latitude, and translational velocities for tropical cyclones near either Savannah or Wilmington increase as the hurricane season progresses. Both relationships are likely due to the interaction of tropical cyclones with synoptic and planetary-scale winds. The median date for tropical cyclones has shifted earlier in recent decades for both Savannah and Wilmington, which is potentially an indication of climate change. An improved understanding of the climatology of tropical cyclones could lead to enhanced city planning, building codes, infrastructure, and resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lindner, B.L., Climatology and variability of tropical cyclones affecting Charleston, South Carolina, from 1670 to 1850. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(2), 397–409. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. An improved understanding of the climatology of tropical cyclones helps communities plan for their consequences. Many industries and governmental agencies base risk assessment analysis and cost–benefit analysis upon the frequency of tropical cyclones of varying intensity. The inclusion of earlier periods lengthens the baseline of the climatological data and thus improves frequency estimates, but it also increases the uncertainty therein. To reduce this uncertainty, a limited meta-analysis combined seven previous historical studies to infer the properties of the 78 tropical cyclones that affected Charleston, South Carolina, during the period 1670–1850. Return rates for hurricanes are estimated at 5.2 and 3.8 years for the periods 1670–1850 and 1778–1850, respectively (the latter period is better documented), although uncertainties in the historical record result in large uncertainties in the return rates. Key observations for significant tropical cyclones were used to distinguish those that were likely to have been major hurricanes. The estimated return rate of 12 years for major hurricanes is likely inconsistent with prior studies that show an increasing number of major hurricanes in the modern era in the broader Atlantic Ocean, potentially because of climate change. The period 1778–1850 likely had a return rate of 9 to 10 years for major hurricanes in Charleston, which implies this may have been a particularly active period. The seasonality of tropical cyclones for the period 1670–1850 in Charleston is similar to the seasonality of tropical cyclones in the modern era, except that the median date for major hurricanes is likely significantly earlier during the period 1670–1850. Finally, the apparent lack of a change in the length of the tropical cyclone season over the past three centuries may be inconsistent with prior studies that show climate change may be inducing a seasonal broadening in the nearby Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Lindner, B.L. and Neuhauser, A., 2018. Climatology and variability of tropical cyclones affecting Charleston, South Carolina. Communities benefit from site-specific examinations of tropical cyclone climatology. The impact data from a tropical cyclone climatology are useful for planning purposes for emergency managers, medical facilities, building and infrastructure codes, utility and communications design, insurance, and wildlife and resource management. To that end, per an analysis of National Hurricane Center data for the years 1851 to 2015, a chronological list of tropical cyclones that passed within 139 km (75 nautical miles) of Charleston, South Carolina was compiled. Date, intensity, approach angle, and translational velocity were catalogued for each system upon closest approach. The return period is approximately 1.5 years for tropical storms and hurricanes, 3.8 years for hurricanes, and 28 years for major hurricanes. The frequency of zero-strike and multistrike seasons is well reproduced by a Poisson distribution, implying random strikes. The seasonality of tropical cyclones in Charleston shows a secondary maximum early in the hurricane season, likely due to the numerous diminished tropical cyclones that originated in or passed through the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, there has been an increase in recent decades in the occurrence of early-season tropical cyclones. The large fraction of tropical cyclones that affect Charleston after originating in or passing through the Gulf of Mexico can also be seen in the data for approach angle (most strikes by tropical storms were by those that came over land) as well as in the data for translational velocities (higher for tropical storms than for hurricanes). Charleston not only experienced more tropical cyclones during the years 1871–1910, but these cyclones also had higher-than-average translational velocities at closest approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, sailing is a recreational and professional (racing, deliveries) activity that groups enjoy different practices including cruising and racing. The renown of a few offshore races and the stories of some famous sailors have encouraged more and more people to go and "experience" the ocean. We are interested in the Atlantic crossings that require a certain knowledge of the weather and the routes. Thus, these sailors cross the Atlantic during specific seasons and have some preferred stopover ports. This subject has been analyzed using interviews carried out in the Azores, the statistics of several sailing associations and data provided by some marinas and harbors as well as our own observations during two crossings. The first results confirm that some Atlantic sailing "territories" - or sea-territories or "merritoires" for the French term - exist. In fact, there is a difference in use between the Northern and Southern hemispheres and also within the North Atlantic. There is also a spatial difference between and within the Atlantic archipelagos, which reveals Atlantic centralities. The European sailors mainly stop over in Madeira and/or the Canary Islands and sometimes in the Cape Verde Islands before reaching the Caribbean. On the way back, Bermuda and especially the Azores represent the main stopovers where offshore sailors relate their sailing experience. The centralities are linked not only to the history and facilities of the different islands but also to the choice of the race organizers and the different motivations of sailors (repairs, tourism or discovery). By knowing these routes and the main stopovers, the offshore Atlantic sailing pattern shows a hierarchy which may be helpful for policies that take into account this flow of a distinctive type of traveler and user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents our observation and analysis results of coastal three-dimensional morphological changes using U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) light detection and range (LiDAR) data. The study area is located in Assateague Island National Seashore, along a 63 km stretch of Assateague Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland. Digital elevation models from LiDAR data over various time intervals, e.g., year-to-year (1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1998- 2000), season-to-season (September, January), and multiyear (1996-2000), were created to test our analysis methods. Six sections in our study area were partitioned in accordance with their historical changes and coastal conditions. Three profiles of each section were extracted from the digital elevation models, and the spatial patterns and volumetric amounts of erosion and deposition of each section on a cell-by-cell basis were calculated. The means of volumetric net change per unit area (m3/m2) of each section were derived. With the analysis of the deposition, erosion, or no change of the study area, the spatial patterns of three-dimensional morphological change pattern can be traced in both detailed and broad extent over varying time periods and frequencies. The analyzed results discovered that the two ends of the island experienced the most significant erosion and deposition, with the changes gradually decreasing toward the middle of the island. The south end of the island had the largest amount of erosion (16,274 m3). The recommendation for light LiDAR data collection frequency is also made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]