Oceanographer provides rare scientific look at effects of storms on Biscayne Bay – | The Invading Sea

Report on Hydrodynamic Research in Biscayne Bay and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Research Objectives

A scientific investigation led by Florida International University physical oceanographer Wei Huang is analyzing the complex hydrodynamic patterns within Biscayne Bay, particularly during extreme weather events such as hurricanes. The research aims to fill a significant scientific gap by mapping previously unobserved sub-surface currents and their long-term effects on the bay’s ecosystem and surrounding urban areas. This work directly supports the advancement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The primary objectives of the research are:

• To model and understand the intricate circulation patterns created by powerful storms.
• To develop predictive capabilities for hurricane-driven flooding to enhance community preparedness.
• To inform water management policies concerning freshwater release and pollutant dispersal.
• To provide data-driven guidance for authorities on damage mitigation and potential evacuation strategies.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The research provides critical data and insights that support the achievement of key SDGs, enhancing the resilience and sustainability of coastal regions.

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By forecasting storm-driven flooding, the research directly contributes to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It provides the foundation for effective early warning systems and informs urban planning to mitigate disaster risk.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action: The study addresses the urgent need to combat climate change and its impacts. By analyzing the effects of intensified hurricanes, the research strengthens resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in a vulnerable coastal zone.
3. SDG 14: Life Below Water: The project is fundamental to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Understanding how storm-induced currents redistribute pollutants, nutrients, and marine larvae is essential for protecting the delicate Biscayne Bay ecosystem and managing its biodiversity.
4. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The findings inform the management of water resources by tracking the pathways of pollutants, including persistent chemicals, that flow from the Everglades watershed into the bay. This supports efforts to protect and restore water-related ecosystems and improve water quality.

Methodology and Findings

The research utilizes advanced computer modeling to simulate the impact of catastrophic storms on Biscayne Bay’s hydrodynamics. A detailed recreation of Hurricane Irma’s effects has yielded significant findings.

Key Findings from the Hurricane Irma Simulation:

• The storm’s powerful winds fundamentally reshaped the bay’s circulation patterns.
• The altered currents led to the dispersal of marine life and pollutants over greater distances than previously understood.
• The model successfully simulated changes in water levels, circulation, and sediment transport, providing a comprehensive analysis of the storm’s impact on the marine environment.

Future Directions and Implications for Sustainability

The research is being expanded to incorporate data from twelve additional storms to identify long-term trends and recurring patterns. The ultimate goal is to build a comprehensive understanding of storm impacts on multiple-inlet coastal systems.

The long-term implications of this work are directly tied to coastal sustainability:

• Improving the resilience of South Florida’s coastal communities against climate-related hazards.
• Enhancing the sustainability of the Biscayne Bay ecosystem by informing management decisions.
• Creating a scientific framework to balance the needs of a major urban center with the preservation of a vital natural waterway, thereby supporting a sustainable future for the region.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article is centered on the impact of Hurricane Irma, an extreme weather event. The research aims to understand and mitigate the effects of such climate-related hazards on coastal communities and ecosystems, directly contributing to strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity. The text states the goal is to “improve resilience and sustainability for South Florida coastal communities and ecosystems.”

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The research has direct applications for making coastal cities like Miami safer and more resilient. The article highlights that the work “could help forecast future hurricane-driven flooding, giving rise to early warnings for residents and guidance for authorities on where to mitigate damage and whether to evacuate,” which are key components of sustainable and resilient urban planning.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The focus of the study is Biscayne Bay, a marine and coastal ecosystem. The article discusses how storms reshape the bay’s circulation, which dictates “the survival of fish larvae,” scatters “marine life,” and spreads pollutants. The research aims to provide information to “protect the ecosystem.”

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article addresses water quality by discussing how freshwater from the Everglades carries “potential pollutants, including forever chemicals” into the bay. The research helps understand how these pollutants spread, which is crucial for managing water quality and protecting both the ecosystem and human health.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Under SDG 13: Climate Action

1. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • The research directly supports this target by providing a scientific basis for understanding the impacts of hurricanes. The article explicitly states the work is “a pathway to understanding coastal hazards to improve resilience and sustainability for South Florida coastal communities and ecosystems.”

Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters.
   • The research contributes to this target by developing tools that can “forecast future hurricane-driven flooding” and provide “early warnings for residents.” This allows for better disaster preparedness, mitigation of damage, and timely evacuations, which reduces the human and economic impact of storms.

Under SDG 14: Life Below Water

1. Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities.
   • The article notes that freshwater carries pollutants into the bay and that the research models how these pollutants are “carried farther than expected.” This understanding is a critical first step in managing and mitigating land-based pollution sources affecting marine ecosystems.
2. Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience.
   • The research provides information to “protect the ecosystem” by mapping how storm currents affect everything from “the survival of fish larvae” to the spread of nutrients. This knowledge is essential for managing the bay to strengthen its resilience against future storms.

Under SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

1. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
   • By simulating how “pollutants, including forever chemicals,” are spread throughout Biscayne Bay during storms, the research provides crucial data for water managers to understand contamination pathways and improve water quality.
2. Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels.
   • The article states that the research “informs water management decisions, including how much freshwater should be released into the bay after extreme weather.” This demonstrates a direct link to applying scientific data for more effective and integrated management of water resources connecting the Everglades, canals, and the bay.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Implied Indicators for Disaster Risk Reduction (Targets 11.5 & 13.1)

• Development of early warning systems: The article implies that the “cutting-edge computer modeling” can be used to create predictive tools. The existence and operational use of a system that can “forecast future hurricane-driven flooding” and issue “early warnings” would serve as a direct indicator of progress.
• Implementation of disaster mitigation and evacuation plans: The research provides “guidance for authorities on where to mitigate damage and whether to evacuate.” An indicator would be the formal adoption and use of this scientific guidance in local and regional disaster risk management plans.

Implied Indicators for Water Quality and Pollution (Targets 6.3 & 14.1)

• Models of pollutant concentration and distribution: The article describes how the research simulates the movement of pollutants, which are “carried farther than expected.” The output of these models—maps showing the spread and concentration of “forever chemicals” and other pollutants after storms—can be used as an indicator to measure the extent of marine pollution.

Implied Indicators for Ecosystem Health (Target 14.2)

• Data on the impact on marine life: The research examines how storm currents affect “the survival of fish larvae” and lead to the “scattering [of] marine life.” Tracking these biological impacts through continued observation and modeling provides a measurable indicator of the ecosystem’s health and its resilience to storm events.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theinvadingsea.com