Some Aspects of Marine Meteorology and Air-Sea-Wetland-River Interactions During Hurricane Ida (2021)

In August 2021 Hurricane Ida devastated southeast Louisiana. On the basis of numerous pertinent meteorological-oceanographic (met-ocean) information including datasets and graphics as supplied by various public agencies, several unique topics related to marine meteorology and air-sea-land interactions are investigated. It is found that a newly proposed revised relation between minimum sea-level pressure and maximum sustained wind speed is verified during Ida. Characteristics of the rapid intensification, defined as an increase in the sustained winds of a tropical cyclone (TC) of at least 30 knots in a 24-hour period, is presented. Severe wave steepness (≥1/20) was measured continuously for approximately 3 hours when the wind speed ranged between 35 to 45 m s-1 at 38 m and the wave direction was from the east. Estimations for the wind stress on the wind-seas and a coastal wetland are presented. Finally, hydro-meteorological phenomena related to the Mississippi River flow reversal and the storm surges along the river levees are also revealed. For operational use, estimation methods and forecast formulas related to above topics are also provided.