Numerical modeling of Fire Island storm breach impacts upon circulation and water quality of Great South Bay, NY

Abstract

from the executive summary, "Recent perceptions of heightened storm activity, barrier island overwashing and barrier island breaching on the south shore of Long Island, NY have generated considerable interest in the prospective impacts of new tidal inlets formed in the barrier islands bordering Great South Bay and Moriches Bay. At the request of the National Park Service, this study was performed in order to attempt to quantify what the physical effects would be if barrier island breaching occurred at several of the more likely sites. The specific impacts studied were, increased flooding potential due to increased tidal transmission, changes in sedimentation and bottom configuration due to altered current and bed stress patterns, alterations of the salinity distribution from new tidal mixing patterns and water quality effects from modified circulation. . ."