Abstract
Dominica was hit hard by Hurricane Maria, a category 5 storm when it passed over the island on September 18, 2017. This study aims to characterise the dynamics associated with this event and their consequences in the medium term on the morphology and the coastal structures of this Caribbean island nation. Based on a multi-site approach (9 sites), this study uses varied data (satellite and aerial images, databases, reports, and numerical modelling) and the validation thereof via qualitative observations and topo-morphological surveys carried out in the field 18 months after the hurricane. The high-resolution modelling of the hydrometeorological conditions during the hurricane, the monitoring of the changes in the shoreline, and the field observations brought to light the prevalence of fluvio-sedimentary hazards (torrential flooding and ground movements) over marine hazards (marine flooding and storm swell) in the modification of the coastal landscapes. Phenomena of massive sediment discharge caused considerable damage to the buildings located in low-lying areas and flood plains and to road infrastructure, which hindered access to certain sectors of the island in the post-storm phase for a significant period of time. The more-limited damage of marine origin was exacerbated by the artificialisation of the coast and the establishment of a permanent shoreline. We demonstrate that the impact model for Hurricane Maria for the coastal areas of Dominica is the result of a combination of natural factors with a particular exposure and vulnerability of coastal populations and structures to hydrometeorological risks.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Department of Lands and Survey of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Development of Dominica for their collaboration and sharing of aerial imaging data, as well as the Climatological Department of the Dominica Meteorological Service for sharing available rain-gauge data. We would also like to thank Ian King, Program Manager for the United Nations Development Program in Dominica, who kindly agreed to discuss the assessment of building damage after the passage of the hurricane; Tangao Hu and Ronald B. Smith for sharing their updated map of land occupation in Dominica, used for the numerical modelling of the rain and wind gusts generated by Hurricane Maria; Yoland Jno Jules, chairman of the village council of Vieille Case, for sharing his knowledge of the roads and bridges on the west coast; and finally, all the Dominicans who generously agreed to share their knowledge and their experience of this major storm event, despite the painful memories evoked.
Funding
This work was supported by ANR’s TIREX (Transfert des apprentIssages de Retours d'EXpériences scientifiques) project (Grant number ANR-18-OURA-0002–05). Author Samuel Battut has received research support from the University of Montpellier 3 Paul Valéry and Maison des Sciences de l'Homme - Sciences et Sociétés Unies pour un autre Développement (MSH SUD).
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. General material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Samuel Battut and Tony Rey. Rain and wind numerical modelling, mapping and analysis were performed by Raphaël Cécé C and Didier Bernard. Storm swell numerical modelling, mapping and analysis were performed by Yann Krien. Translation of the manuscript in English from French was performed by Semyon Kronrod. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Samuel Battut and Tony Rey, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Appendices
Appendix 1
Uncertainty indices for the position of the shoreline calculated for each site.
Colihaut | Fond Saint Jean | Grand Bay | Mahaut | Number one beach | Petite Savanne | Pointe Mulâtre | Portsmouth | Scotts Head | Mean error (m) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ep | 0.35 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.46 |
Er | 0.99 | 2.81 | 3.46 | 2.58 | 2.19 | 4.35 | 2.56 | 3.40 | 3.34 | 2.85 |
Ed | 2.20 | 2.58 | 2.47 | 2.33 | 2.69 | 1.95 | 1.52 | 1.99 | 2.72 | 2.27 |
Eg1 | 2.44 | 3.85 | 4.28 | 3.51 | 3.51 | 4.79 | 3.02 | 3.96 | 4.33 | 3.74 |
Eg2 | 2.23 | 2.63 | 2.52 | 2.38 | 2.74 | 2.01 | 1.60 | 2.03 | 2.75 | 2.32 |
Appendix 2
Movement of the shoreline caused by the passage of the hurricane at the study sites.
Site | Colihaut | Fond Saint Jean | Grand Bay | Mahaut | Number One Beach | Petite Savanne | Pointe Mulatre | Portsmouth Bay | Scotts Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Transects | 38 | 99 | 155 | 165 | 34 | 8 | 146 | 464 | 97 |
Mean NSM (m) | 15.08 | 15.83 | 14.85 | 2.43 | -16.34 | 74.58 | 2.69 | −8.34 | 3.76 |
Min. NSM (m) | −5.29 | 0.37 | −3.00 | −12.81 | −22.18 | 66.65 | −12.47 | −42.74 | −3.41 |
Max. NSM (m) | 27.05 | 58.75 | 60.55 | 25.77 | −12.18 | 85.39 | 37.55 | 10.24 | 16.77 |
Nb | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 34 | 0 | 29 | 319 | 0 |
% | 10.53% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 13.94% | 100.00% | 0.00% | 19.86% | 68.75% | 0.00% |
Nb | 2 | 10 | 27 | 101 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 124 | 64 |
% | 5.26% | 10.10% | 17.42% | 61.21% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 34.25% | 26.72% | 65.98% |
Nb | 32 | 89 | 128 | 41 | 0 | 8 | 67 | 21 | 33 |
% | 84.21% | 89.90% | 82.58% | 24.85% | 0.00% | 100.00% | 45.89% | 4.53% | 34.02% |
Surface area gained (m2) | 4355 | 12,324 | 18,504 | 3618 | 0 | 6189 | 4121 | 873 | 2581 |
Surface area lost (m2) | 18 | 0 | 6 | 627 | 4196 | 0 | 1499 | 32,332 | 10 |
Net change (m2) | 4337 | 12,324 | 18,498 | 2992 | −4196 | 6189 | 2623 | −31,459 | 2572 |
Linear change (m2/ml) | 9.45 | 12.22 | 11.45 | 1.77 | −10.76 | 56.35 | 1.72 | −6.28 | 2.23 |
Appendix 3
Movement of the shoreline in the post-storm period at the study sites.
Site | Colihaut | Fond Saint Jean | Grand Bay | Mahaut | Number One Beach | Petite Savanne | Pointe Mulatre | Portsmouth Bay | Portsmouth Bay | Scotts Head | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Transects | 41 | 91 | 155 | 164 | 33 | 11 | 154 | 472 | 472 | 96 | |
Mean NSM (m) | 5.60 | −3.00 | −9.38 | 3.88 | 21.02 | −9.02 | −6.17 | 4.63 | 4.63 | −1.54 | |
Min. NSM (m) | −2.77 | −24.58 | −25.66 | −8.21 | 13.38 | −13.36 | −28.78 | −13.38 | −13.38 | −8.82 | |
Max. NSM (m) | 14.85 | 27.46 | 0.32 | 11.35 | 35.88 | −0.76 | 4.02 | 41.51 | 41.51 | 5.90 | |
Erosional transects | Nb | 2 | 35 | 125 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 95 | 38 | 38 | 15 |
% | 4.88% | 38.46% | 80.65% | 3.05% | 0.00% | 90.91% | 61.69% | 8.05% | 8.05% | 15.63% | |
Stable transects | Nb | 11 | 44 | 30 | 71 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 193 | 193 | 77 |
% | 26.83% | 48.35% | 19.35% | 43.29% | 0.00% | 9.09% | 36.36% | 40.89% | 40.89% | ||
Accretional transects | Nb | 28 | 12 | 0 | 88 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 241 | 241 | 4 |
% | 68.29% | 13.19% | 0.00% | 53.66% | 100.00% | 0.00% | 1.95% | 51.06% | 51.06% | 4.17% | |
Surface area gained (m2) | 1775 | 551 | 0 | 2999 | 5468 | 0 | 115 | 17,190 | 17,190 | 105 | |
Surface area lost (m2) | 5 | 3408 | 9893 | 157 | 0 | 720 | 7408 | 1711 | 1711 | 838 | |
Net change (m2) | 1770 | −2857 | −9893 | 2842 | 5468 | 720 | −7293 | 15,479 | 15,479 | −732 | |
Linear change (m2/ml) | 3.85 | −2.83 | −6.13 | 1.68 | 14.03 | −6.56 | −4.78 | 3.09 | 3.09 | −0.64 | |
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Battut, S., Rey, T., Cécé, R. et al. Responses and adjustments of the coastal systems of Dominica (Lesser Antilles) when faced with an extreme event: Hurricane Maria (September 2017). Nat Hazards 116, 151–191 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05668-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05668-2