The impact of Hurricane Andrew on the near-surface marine environment in the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Hurricane Andrew was a relatively small but intense hurricane that passed through the Bahamas, across the Florida Peninsula, and across the Gulf of Mexico between 23 and 26 August 1992. Maximum sustained winds of 75m s-1 occurred just north of the storm track near Miami (Fowey Rocks). Singificant wave height increased from 1 to 6.4m at one NDBC buoy in the Gulf of Mexico. A record high water level occurred at North Miami Beach. Decreases in water level occurred along the west coast of Florida with a maximum negative surge of -1.2m at Naples. Increases in water level occurred along the Gulf coast between the Florida panhandle and Louisiana where a storm surge of +1.2m was observed at Bay Waveland, Mississippi. Current speeds at one shallow water location along the hurricane track in the northern Gulf (28.4°N, 90.5°W) increased from ~15 to almost 140cm s-1 at a depth of 11m during passage of the storm. Finally, SSTs decreased by up to 3°C at various locations along the hurricane track. -from Authors