The U.S. Geological Survey recently released a new report on the science it employed in response to hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Scientists say what USGS learned and the technology it used before, during, and after the 2005 hurricanes can help the public, emergency responders and policymakers reduce losses from future hurricanes. This and much more is detailed in "Science and the Storms: the USGS Response to the Hurricanes of 2005." USGS scientists recently discussed this report at two congressional briefings.

The publication showcases USGS hurricane science. It details the agency's discovery of new storm-surge modeling techniques; its use of satellite imagery and airborne lidar (light detection and ranging) to measure land loss and landscape change; and it use of science to help determine water quality and flooding threats.

"Hurricane Rita was the first time we were able to record a hurricane surge — the average water level when a hurricane hits — across its entire impact zone, from Louisiana to Texas," said Charlie Demas, director, USGS Louisiana Water Science Center. "This helps us with storm surge modeling to better understand the potential damage of future hurricanes, and it was not available before Hurricane Rita."

Storm surges can wipe out entire communities. Many times, the waves on top of the storm surge are as high as the surge is deep.

"Holly Beach, Louisiana, is the only community that I know of that was completely destroyed during a hurricane," said USGS oceanographer Asbury Sallenger, talking about Rita's impact. "It remains one of the most potentially hazardous locations in the nation."

After the storms, scientists used satellite imagery coupled with geographic information systems to analyze wetland loss. They concluded that Louisiana lost 217 square miles of wetlands as a result of Katrina and Rita.

"People in Louisiana have literally watched their land sink before their eyes," said Gregory J. Smith, director, USGS National Wetlands Research Center.  "These are the same wetlands that provide a critical line of defense against coastal storms."

USGS, in partnership with NASA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and others, also used lidar that enabled scientists to discover how Katrina affected Louisiana's Chandeleur Islands.  The islands, which buffet the mainland, lost 85 percent of their surface area and all of their sand during the hurricane. Since then, lidar shows they continue to erode: 58 percent of the coast has retreated.

USGS' efforts to help rescue citizens who called 911 are also featured in the report. Its scientists developed a way to assign longitude and latitude to callers' street addresses and plotted these on maps for helicopter and boat operators to perform rescues. These scientists plotted more than 8,000 calls, aiding in the location and rescue of more than 21,000 people. Their efforts merited the USGS a Service to America Medal.

The report represents the work of about 100 USGS scientists and their cooperators nationwide. It is available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1306/, and limited copies may also be available at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/cir/cir1306 . The Government Printing Office is selling the reports for $30 at http://bookstore.gpo.gov/.

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