PROGRESS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN STORM-SURGE MODELING

The field of storm surge modeling has developed and matured considerab ly over the past 30 years. Several operational surge models have been implemented in Europe over the past decade. These operational advances have been accompanied by research into new areas, chiefly coupled sur ge-wave models and data assimilation, both of which are covered in thi s review. Surge-wave models attempt to provide more realistic model ph ysics for the crucial area of air-sea interaction. Assimilation techni ques use available data to generate improved numerical solutions, desp ite model inadequacies. The current activity in surge modeling and rel ated areas is highlighted by the large proportion of recent papers cit ed in this work. Despite this activity, there is a general recognition that inadequate meteorological inputs remain the weak link in surge m odeling. In addition, the advances in midlatitude modeling are not mir rored in the tropics. This is largely due to difficulties in predictin g the paths and properties of tropical storms, but it also serves to e mphasize the importance that has been attached to storm surge modeling in Europe.