Published works

The occurrence of extreme water level events along low-lying, highly populated and/or developed coastlines can lead to devastating impacts on coastal infrastructure. Therefore it is very important that the probabilities of extreme water levels are accurately evaluated to inform flood and coastal management and for future planning. The aim of this study is to provide estimates of present day extreme total water level exceedance probabilities (including the action of surface gravity waves) around the whole coastline of Australia, arising from combinations of mean sea level, astronomical tide and storm surges generated by both extra-tropical and tropical storms.

Significant progress has been made in the four main areas of investigation. In particular, the modelling system now incorporates and combines the main 3 areas of development detailed in the project aims (wave-set-up, extra-tropical transition, continental shelf waves). Simulations are currently being undertaken with the use of an unstructured grid for the Australian region at a 100m resolution at the coastline. Model validations, through comparison with field measurements have been completed for specific events including: Tropical cyclones in WA (TC George) and Queensland (TC Yasi) , Extratropical Transition event in WA (TC Alby) and, Extra-tropical storms in WA and SA (winter 2007), and Continental Shelf Waves. Simulations have also been undertaken for the recent east coast low event in New South Wales in June 2016.

Work on meteotsunamis has continued and been extended beyond the initial study undertaken in Western Australia, associated with the ship accident in Frementle Port, to cover the whole of Australia and over 200 events were identified from the tide gage records over the past 5 years. Discussions with end-users have continued to develop final products. In addition, discussions with Bureau of Meteorology are ongoing to develop synergies with the work that the BNHCRC project team is undertaking and the Bureau developments for an operational storm surge warning system for Australia.