Stage 1, March 2001
Report cover
Queensland Climate Change and Community Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones
Ocean hazards assessment
Reporting on a joint project multi-agency investigation to assess the magnitude of the present and future ocean threat from tropical cyclones in Queensland, Australia and the vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme winds.
Stage 1 Report
March 2001
Review of Technical Requirements
Executive summary
The Bureau of Meteorology, in conjunction with a number of Queensland Government agencies and with financial support from the Greenhouse Special Treasury Initiative, commissioned the present study to assess the magnitude of the ocean threat from tropical cyclones in Queensland. The overall project is intended to update and extend the present understanding of the threat of storm tide inundation in Queensland on a state-wide scale including the effects of storm wave conditions in selected areas, and estimates of potential Greenhouse impacts.
The overall project scope is outlined in Appendix A, while the present report addresses only Stage 1 of the project, which is limited to:
a) A review of technical requirements in order to further develop the project;
- Reviewing current knowledge and making technical recommendations for the overall project.
- Appraising and adapting the James Cook University (JCU) storm surge model (MMUSURGE) software for the purposes of the project.
b) State-wide numerical simulations of tropical cyclone storm surge;
- Installing the MMUSURGE storm surge modelling software on the Bureau's computer system in Brisbane.
- Assisting the Bureau in undertaking storm surge modelling for the Queensland coast. The specific work items under Stage 1 were:
Part A: Review of Project Technical Requirements.
A-1 Assessment of Greenhouse climate change and sea level rise.
A-2 Review the technical requirements for numerical modelling of cyclone storm surge.
A-3 Review the technical requirements for numerical modelling of cyclone wind waves.
A-4 Database design.
A-5 Review the technical requirements for an operational MEOWs system.
A-6 Dissemination of results.
Part B: Numerical Modelling of Tropical Cyclone Storm Surge.
B-1 Establishment of the storm surge modelling system and database.
B-2 Production of numerical simulation data.
The above scope items have been addressed within a developmental context which aims to provide a complete overview of the technical needs for assessment of ocean hazards for tropical cyclones in Queensland, taking account of climate change and community vulnerability issues. Each report chapter provides its own specific recommendations, which are brought together in Chapter 14 as a series of major recommendations, re-framed to address the original workscope items as listed above.
It is concluded that much of the work requiring to be done under subsequent stages of the project can be achieved with existing tools and methodologies. There are some items however which will greatly benefit from modest but immediate research and development efforts.
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