Abstract
Sediment resuspension and transport during storm events, specifically tropical storms and hurricanes, is poorly understood on the inner shelf. The increase in frequency and intensity of hurricanes in the northern Gulf of Mexico, coupled with the increase in development and tourism along the Florida Panhandle, in the southeastern United States, has increased the interest in sediment transport and erosion during hurricanes. This study utilized MODIS satellite imagery and a sediment resuspension model for the assessment of inner shelf material resuspension during hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. True color images and reflectance maps from red channel satellite imagery were created to corroborate modeled sediment resuspension. The model results indicate that substantial resuspension occurred over several days and down to the 100 m isobath during Hurricane Ivan. Resuspension intensity for Dennis was nearly as high as Ivan; however, such occurred over a smaller time interval and depth. Satellite imagery confirms the model's results with a significant plume that persists for 3 days after Ivan's landfall.
