Hydrodynamic storm surge model simplification via application of land to water isopleths in coastal Louisiana

A L:W isopleth permutation of 99%-90%-40%-1% with areas labeled “High” (99%-90%), “Intermediate” (90%-40%) and “Submersed” (40%-1%) is found to best represent simulated storm surge that most closely reproduces the high resolution storm surge model. Simulation results reveal the methodology developed in this analysis is effective in identifying an isopleth permutation that accurately simplifies a high resolution storm surge model. This result may lead to future analyses of the historical evolution of storm surge attenuation in the Mississippi River Delta (MRD) as well as other complex, low-lying deltas. These possibilities include developing storm surge models for the years 1930 and 1970, for instance, with the same isopleth permutation to examine the changes in storm surge attenuation through time. This analysis could also be applied in other similar low-lying coastal regions to conduct past and future analyses of the evolution of coastal hazards.