Mon Oct 07 21:22:07 UTC 2024: ## UW Researchers Deploy Wave Gauges to Capture Hurricane Helene’s Impact

**Cedar Key, Florida** – In the wake of Hurricane Helene, researchers from the University of Washington (UW) are working to understand the storm’s impact on coastal communities. The team, led by Michael Grilliot, operations manager of the UW RAPID Facility, deployed wave gauges and other sensors in Cedar Key and Horseshoe Beach, Florida, before the hurricane made landfall.

These sensors provided critical data on wave height, storm surge depth, and wind speed during the hurricane. UW researchers collaborated with the University of Florida, the UF Center for Coastal Solutions, and the Nearshore Extreme Events Reconnaissance Association to collect pre- and post-storm data.

“We built these wave gauges to be almost as robust as commercially available models, but for one-tenth of the cost,” said Grilliot. “This allows us to deploy a larger number of sensors and get a more comprehensive understanding of the storm’s impact.”

The wave gauges, built by UW undergraduate student Kandai Shimada, recorded a sharp increase in pressure during the surge, providing detailed information on the flood level and wave energy. This data will be crucial for validating and improving hurricane prediction models.

“This dataset is unique because we were able to respond so quickly and place so many sensors in conjunction with pre-storm lidar and drone imagery,” said Grilliot. “This allows us to create a more robust understanding of the storm’s impact than has been possible before.”

The team will return to Florida next week to collect post-storm data, including drone and ground-based lidar scans to capture changes in beach morphology and structural damage. They will also use a remote-controlled boat to create a topographic map of underwater depth.

“Ultimately, we hope that this research will help us build structures that can withstand the forces of these storms,” said Grilliot. “This will allow communities to better predict storm surges and wave heights, understand their risk, and act accordingly to save lives and property.”

This research is part of a larger effort funded by the National Science Foundation, focusing on understanding and mitigating the effects of extreme weather events on coastal communities.

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