Wind impact on sea level variability along the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts: implications to coastal flooding hazard

This study investigates how offshore and local wind patterns affect sea level variability along the United States Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Using sea level data from 18 NOAA tide gauge stations (2000–2021) combined with wind reanalysis datasets, the authors analyse the relationship between wind magnitude and direction and non-tidal residual sea level (NTR), which represents sea level changes not explained by tides. The research aims to understand how wind forcing contributes to coastal flooding hazards. The study performs extensive correlation analyses between sea level variability and wind patterns, identifying dominant wind directions and regional wind regimes that influence coastal sea levels.

The results show that offshore winds play a major role in driving sea level variability, explaining 30–50% of variability at ten tide gauge stations, 15–30% at four stations, and less than 15% at the remaining stations. In contrast, local winds measured at tide gauges showed little or no correlation with sea level variability, suggesting that broader offshore wind forcing is more important than local wind conditions. The analysis also identifies regional patterns in dominant wind directions that are associated with extreme high and low sea level events. These patterns demonstrate that wind direction and magnitude can significantly influence coastal water levels and contribute to flooding hazards. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating offshore wind dynamics into coastal flood prediction models and risk management strategies, especially as sea-level rise and climate change increase flood risks in coastal communities.