News

  • How does Hurricane Harvey compare to a European cyclone?

    How does Hurricane Harvey compare to a European cyclone?

    by Sebastian Pitman There has been much in the news recently about the devastating impact of Tropical Storm Harvey on the Gulf Coast of the US, but how do European cyclones compare? The National Tidal and Sea Level Facility outlines how the underpinning physics are similar between Tropical Cyclones (Hurricanes) and European weather systems (extra-tropical cyclones). They are both driven…

  • The onset of the UK's stormy season

    The onset of the UK's stormy season

    by Sebastian Pitman SurgeWatch now has a record of 292 coastal flooding events that have affected the UK, and that number is increasing thanks in part to your contributions! The end of August marks the onset of the coastal flooding season – of 292 recorded events, 91 % occur between the months of September and March. One such event in…

  • Climate change delays North Sea flooding

    Climate change delays North Sea flooding

    by Sebastian Pitman The impact of climate change on coastal flood events is of key concern to coastal managers at present. A new study has been published that investigates the link between climate change and the timing of flood events during the year. The important message from the study is that the effects of a changing climate do not have…

  • Climate change and coastal flooding: the current state of the art

    Climate change and coastal flooding: the current state of the art

    by Sebastian Pitman There are many hundreds of publications in the scientific literature each year detailing the proposed impacts of climate change on the coastal zone, however, last week, the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) published a new synopsis on UK coastal flooding impacts. The coastal flooding report, authored by SurgeWatch founders Ivan Haigh and Robert Nicholls is available here. Concern…

  • £10m investment in tidal defences to

    £10m investment in tidal defences to "reduce Lowestoft flood risk ten-fold"

    by Sebastian Pitman The floods of December 2013 devastated homeowners, local business and transport links alike in Lowestoft. Official figures estimate that in excess of 150 homes and 230 commercial properties were flooded, with key transport links such as the A12 and Lowestoft Train Station closed as a result of the floodwater. These devastating flood were followed by similar events in 2015…

  • Are seawalls the magic solution to coastal flooding and erosion?

    Are seawalls the magic solution to coastal flooding and erosion?

    By Shari L. Gallop, Macquarie University History of seawalls Seawalls are a form of coastal defence, where a wall is built parallel to the coast to protect land and infrastructure from coastal flooding, and erosion due to wave action. They may also be built to help stabilise a cliff or a bank, and can be made from a variety of materials, such as timber, concrete, rocks,…

  • Sign up to our News Letter

    Sign up to our News Letter

    Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date with SurgeWatch. Newsletters are send out approximately every quarter. * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name…