Storm identification and assessment of potential impacts in Rhodes Island, Greece

Coastal areas are highly dynamic systems, threatened by extreme meteorological phenomena, such as wave storms. Therefore, the analysis of storms is a key element in coastal management, as providing information for the assessment of potential hazards due to such events. In this study a classification of storm events in Rhodes Island, Greece, is presented by means of cluster analysis. Storms were defined in terms of significant wave height, wave peak period and storm duration which are the main parameters reflecting the intensity of each event, and they were classified into five groups from weak to extreme (I-weak, II-moderate, III-significant, IV-severe, V-extreme). Subsequently, an assessment of storm impacts on coastal areas was carried out in terms of coastal flooding. More specifically, wave run-up was estimated by applying an 1D numerical model (MIKE21 BW). The potential hazards were assessed in selected beaches of Rhodes Island that are of great importance due to high population density and significant economic activities, such as tourism