Sept. 16, 2011
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DUCK, N.C. — ERDC Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory researchers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Duck, N.C., Field Research Facility (FRF) captured data as the eye of Hurricane Irene passed approximately 8 kilometers west of the facility on Aug. 27.
Meteorological and oceanographic instruments remained operational throughout the storm in both the ocean and sound environments at the FRF. The extensive complement of data includes winds, waves, currents, water level, run-up, and morphology gathered from the northeast quadrant of a category one hurricane is quite rare and may provide unprecedented insight into storm processes, as well as critical model validation data.
A very preliminary analysis of these data reveals interesting highlights from the event.
USACE established the FRF in 1977 to support its coastal engineering research requirements. Since its creation, the facility has maintained a comprehensive, long-term monitoring program of the coastal ocean including waves, tides, currents, local meteorology, and the resultant beach response.
Visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck, N.C. Web site to learn more.