Atmospheric Turbulence and Storm Surge Due to Hurricane Belle (1976)

Mean and fluctuating winds wore measured within the atmospheric surface layer at three locations across Long Island during the landfall of Hurricane Belle on 9 August 19176. An order of magnitude increase in wind shear was observed. A maximum friction velocity of ∼133 cm s−1 and a maximum energy dissipation rate of ∼130 cm−2 s−3 were estimated. Mean wind speeds at the beach were found to he 3–5 times the corresponding wind speeds inland. A periodicity in rainfall associated with bands of thundershowers was observed. A storm surge of ∼125 cm was estimated from water level records near Shinnecock Inlet. The records indicated the three successive stages, forerunner, hurricane surge and resurgence, associated with the hurricane.