Course Schedule and Catalog

Long Title: COASTAL HAZARDS IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

Department: Civil & Environmental Engr

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): CEVE 363

Description: Coastal communities across the globe are routinely threatened by extreme winds, storm surge, and intense precipitation from landfalling storm systems, which cause loss of life and billions in economic damages each year. Climate change is projected to exacerbate coastal hazards due to increasing sea-levels and more intense storms. For risk assessment, mitigation, and long-term adaptation, it is crucial to understand the climatology and physical mechanisms of coastal hazards, as well as their links to climate change. This course will cover 1) the climatology of tropical and extra-tropical cyclones, 2) physical principles governing tropical cyclone wind, rainfall, and storm surge, 3) numerical prediction of coastal flooding, and 4) theoretical relationships between coastal hazards and climate change. The class assignments will consist of bi-weekly homework, two in-class exams, and a final project. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively on homework, and active class participation is required. The assignments will give students the opportunity to work with a variety of hydrometeorological datasets (i.e. tidal gauges, global reanalyses, satellite imagery, etc.), and use programming for hazard prediction. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: CEVE 514. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for CEVE 414 if student has credit for CEVE 514.