Corpus Christi
About Corpus ChristiSpanish explorer, Alonso Alvarez de Pineda, named Corpus Christi in 1519, after discovering the subtropical bay on the Catholic feast day of Corpus Christi. The city emerged in the 19th and 20th century as an important port, an identity that holds true today in this fifth-largest port in the nation. The Corpus Christi Naval Air Station was commissioned in 1941, and military facilities in the region still provide an important component of the economy. The aircraft carrier USS Lexington provides a tourist-friendly attraction related to the military presence here. Other economic sectors in the region include tourism, petrochemical industry and fishing. As of 2014, Corpus Christi contained around 320,000 people, while the metro area contained a population of approximately 442,000.
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Storm Surge HistoryObservations are available for 42 tropical surges since 1912. The unnamed 1919 hurricane generated a destructive 16-ft (4.88 m) storm surge in Nueces Bay, west of Corpus Christi, and a 15-ft (4.57-m) storm surge closer to town. These raging waters were responsible for most of the 284 fatalities. The 15-ft water level converts to 14.54 ft (4.43 m) over the NAVD88 datum. Six surge events stand out from the rest at this location, producing storm tide levels > 8 ft (2.44 m). These were unnamed hurricanes in 1916 and 1919, as well as hurricanes Carla (1961), Beulah (1967), Celia (1970) and Allen (1980). However, over the past 36 years, no storm tides have exceeded 4.94 ft (1.51 m). Has this lull in hurricane-driven storm surges made the local population complacent? Time will tell.
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Hurricane Harvey (2017)
Harvey generated the 17th highest recorded storm tide (surge + tide) level on record at Corpus Christi since 1900 and the highest storm tide since Hurricane Alex (2010). Blue dots are storm tide data converted to NAVD88 datum. Data are sorted chronologically from oldest (left) to newest (right). The red circle and line depict Harvey's highest water level in the Corpus Christi area (Bob Hall Pier) as of Fri Aug 25 at 500PM CDT.
Infographics
This histogram provides the maximum water levels of the 42 tropical surges at Corpus Christi since 1900. The events are ordered from the highest water level (Rank = 1) to lowest (Rank = 42). These events are not placed in chronological order. Graphic updated January 4, 2019.
This time series provides the maximum water levels of 42 tropical surge events at Corpus Christi since 1900. These events are ordered chronologically from oldest (left) to newest (right). Consistent tide-gauge data are available at this site since 1985. Graphic updated January 4, 2019.
Map of Highest Surge Event
An unnamed hurricane in 1919 generated a storm surge of 15 ft (4.57 m) at Corpus Christi. Nearby, water levels at White Point, in Nueces Bay, reached 16 ft (4.88 m). These were the highest recorded water levels in the region.
Storm Surge Data
raw data
dpeak water level
The Corpus Christi data selection circle is centered on the following coordinates:
Lat: 27.6875; Lon: -97.3205
Lat: 27.6875; Lon: -97.3205
storm-by-storm
about storm surge data
Sea Level Rise
Table of SLR scenarios for Corpus Christi, Texas, from CorpsClimate web-tool developed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Data from this table revised August 23, 2017. Available on the Web at: http://corpsclimate.us/ccaceslcurves.cfm.
Graph of SLR scenarios for Corpus Christi, Texas, from CorpsClimate web-tool developed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Data from this table revised August 24, 2017. Available on the Web at: http://corpsclimate.us/ccaceslcurves.cfm.
Data Selection
Ideally, storm surge data would be taken completely from long-term tide gauges. Unfortunately, this is not possible for several reasons:
1. The record length of most tide gauges is not long enough to capture more than several decades of data (there are a few exceptions);
2. Large storm surges exceeding 10 ft (3.05 m) often destroy tide gauges;
3. Storm surge is a localized phenomenon, with surge heights often changing considerably over several miles. Therefore, tide gauges usually do not pick up the peak storm surge because the network of gauges is not dense enough.
Considering these challenges, U-Surge utilizes a circle with a 10-mile (16-km) radius for data capture. This area is optimal, as larger circles capture more data but decrease data homogeneity, but smaller circles do not capture enough observations.
Corpus Christi is an usual data site for U-Surge, as data are taken from different populations. Open coast data are taken from Bob Hall Pier, while other observations are taken from the city of Corpus Christi and Corpus Christi Bay. U-Surge attempts to avoid mixing distributions like this, however, such data "stretching" is necessary at Corpus Christi because of intricacies with observed data.
Corpus has experienced two periods of active tropical cyclone climatology- the period from 1916 to 1933 and the period from 1961 to 1980. Surge events in these periods were large and destructive, and generally measured in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas. These events must be included to understand coastal flood risk in the area.
Bob Hall Pier provides tide gauge data starting in 1985. These data are useful because they provide precise observations for large or small magnitude storm surge events. They are also useful for providing a high quantity of flood events, thereby filling out the statistical distribution.
For now, U-Surge combines observations from these two datasets into one area dataset that contains observations from both Bob Hall Pier and Corpus Christi Bay. Additional research may investigate how to analyze these data- potential through modeling studies that adjust the data depending on precise location.
1. The record length of most tide gauges is not long enough to capture more than several decades of data (there are a few exceptions);
2. Large storm surges exceeding 10 ft (3.05 m) often destroy tide gauges;
3. Storm surge is a localized phenomenon, with surge heights often changing considerably over several miles. Therefore, tide gauges usually do not pick up the peak storm surge because the network of gauges is not dense enough.
Considering these challenges, U-Surge utilizes a circle with a 10-mile (16-km) radius for data capture. This area is optimal, as larger circles capture more data but decrease data homogeneity, but smaller circles do not capture enough observations.
Corpus Christi is an usual data site for U-Surge, as data are taken from different populations. Open coast data are taken from Bob Hall Pier, while other observations are taken from the city of Corpus Christi and Corpus Christi Bay. U-Surge attempts to avoid mixing distributions like this, however, such data "stretching" is necessary at Corpus Christi because of intricacies with observed data.
Corpus has experienced two periods of active tropical cyclone climatology- the period from 1916 to 1933 and the period from 1961 to 1980. Surge events in these periods were large and destructive, and generally measured in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas. These events must be included to understand coastal flood risk in the area.
Bob Hall Pier provides tide gauge data starting in 1985. These data are useful because they provide precise observations for large or small magnitude storm surge events. They are also useful for providing a high quantity of flood events, thereby filling out the statistical distribution.
For now, U-Surge combines observations from these two datasets into one area dataset that contains observations from both Bob Hall Pier and Corpus Christi Bay. Additional research may investigate how to analyze these data- potential through modeling studies that adjust the data depending on precise location.
Data Sources
Tide GAUGE data from noaa tides and currents
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1. Tide Gauge Data from NOAA Tides and Currents
Bob Hall Pier Tide Gauge Operation: National Ocean Service (NOS) Coordinates: Lat: 27.58, Lon: -97.2167 Link: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=8775870 6-min Water Level Data Jan 1, 1996 - Present Hourly Water Level Data Mar 10, 1985 - Present |
Bob Hall Pier Tide Gauge, Corpus Christi, Texas
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Tide gauge data from u.s. coast guard
2. Other Scientific Sources
See Needham and Keim (2012) for other scientific sources used to build Apalachicola storm surge data.
3. Anecdotal Sources
See Needham and Keim (2012) for anecdotal sources, such as newspaper archives, that were helpful for building Apalachicola storm surge data.
See Needham and Keim (2012) for other scientific sources used to build Apalachicola storm surge data.
3. Anecdotal Sources
See Needham and Keim (2012) for anecdotal sources, such as newspaper archives, that were helpful for building Apalachicola storm surge data.
Missing Data
The following hurricanes may have generated storm surges exceeding 4 ft (1.22 m) near Corpus Christi, but a literature review does not yet provide data. We have identified seven storms that are missing storm surge data from 1900- present. The maps are provided by Unisys Corporation.
This historic map of Corpus Christi from 1887 shows the location of this growing city on Corpus Christi Bay, near the confluence with Nueces Bay. Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Old_map-Corpus_Christi-1887.jpg
Local Partnership
MISSION AND VISION
HRI's Vision: A Gulf of Mexico that is ecologically and economically sustainable
HRI's Mission: Science-driven solutions to Gulf of Mexico problems
RESEARCH
Selected research projects: http://harteresearchinstitute.org/geospace-research
CONTACTS
Contact Dr. James Gibeaut for localized expertise related to sea-level rise and coastal mapping
Here is a list of additional contacts at HRI: http://harteresearchinstitute.org/contact
Resources
Storm Surge Multimedia
Hurricane Harvey (2017)
Tropical Storm Hermine (2010)
Screen shot from YouTube video of Tropical Storm Hermine's surge and waves at Packery Channel Jetties, Corpus Christi
Hurricane Alex (2010)
Hurricane Ike (2008)
Hurricane Dolly (2008)
Hurricane Ivan (2004)
Hurricane Ivan (2004) made landfall near the AL/FL border. This video shows surfing on the swell near Corpus Christi, TX. We sometimes post surfing videos from areas with high swells away from a hurricane, but we do not post videos of people "playing" in the dangerous surf near a hurricane's landfall.
Hurricane Allen (1980)
Storm surge smashed building in Corpus Christi [Note: This was caption at the source of this photo. Click photo for link]
Hurricane Celia (1970)
Storm surge damage evident from footage of Port Aransas Shrimp Fleet around 5:43-5:48 in video
Unnamed Hurricane (1933)
The following article was published in Galveston Daily News, September 6, 1933, Page 9
The preceding article was published in Galveston Daily News, September 6, 1933, Page 9
Galveston Daily News, September 7, 1933, Page 1
Galveston Daily News, September 7, 1933, Page 1
Galveston Daily News, September 7, 1933, Page 1
Galveston Daily News, September 7, 1933, Page 2
Unnamed Tropical Storm (1931)
Galveston Daily News, June 28, 1931, Page 1: Storm surge in Corpus Christi was 3.5 feet.
Unnamed Hurricane (1919)
Excellent stories of remarkable storm surge from 2:00 - 5:15 in this video. A woman tells of how she floated 20 miles in the storm tide on debris. However, there is an error in the commentary of the male narrator early in the video. Around 11-16 seconds in, he says, "...hurricane was not the strongest, it didn't even have the highest flood tide of any of the hurricanes that have struck since, but the loss of life was catastrophic...". His reference to more recent storms having higher storm tides is not correct- the 1919 hurricane produced the highest recorded storm tide near Corpus Christi.
Shirkey, Marie. [North Beach after the 1919 hurricane], Photograph, 1919; (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth28989/ : accessed April 18, 2016), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, Corpus Christi, Texas.
