Tropical cyclones - Extreme Events: A Physical Reconstruction and Risk Assessment - page 81

5

4.5

4

3.5

3

2.5

2

1.5

1

30 20 10 010203040506070 80 90100 110

− − −

Tr anslational velocity (km h − 1 )
Radius of maximum winds (km)

Distance from maximum winds (km)

Figure 4.1. Variations in surge height with changing translational velocity, the
radius of maximum winds and the distance from maximum winds in a cyclone for
Red Cliff Point near Cairns, northeastern Australia (from Nott, 2003).

4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0

0.5

0

860

880 900 920 940 960 980 1000

Cyclone central pressure (hPa)

Red Cliff
Double Is.
Fitzroy Is.

Figure 4.2. Variations in surge height between locations with different offshore
bathymetries and coastal configurations (from Nott, 2003).

of the cyclone, the forward or translational speed of the cyclone, the radius of
maximum winds, angle of approach of the cyclone track to the coast, the off-
shore bathymetry and the coastal configuration or shape of the coastline. Surge
height increases as central pressure decreases or the cyclone intensifies. It also
increases as the translational speed and radius of maximum winds increase, as
theangle of approach becomes more perpendicular to the coast, where continen-
tal shelves are shallow and broad and also within certain shaped coastal embay-
ments. Figures 4.1 and 4.2 show variations in surge height with translational