Out of This World

Video by Christopher Northfield

The Coastal Storm (CSTORM) modeling system

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center

April 5, 2024 | 11:31

The Coastal Storm (CSTORM) modeling system is a state-of-the-art physics-based system of numerical models for assessing coastal storm hazards including storm surge and wave conditions. CSTORM workflows and integrated models provide for a robust, standardized approach to characterizing the coastal storm hazards that put communities at risk, both now and into the future. CSTORM allows for evaluation of risk based statistical approaches to multi-scale numerical scenarios needed for reducing the uncertainty of storm impacts to existing coastal infrastructure and for design of new flood reduction projects, including Natural and Nature Based Features (NNBF). CSTORM has efficient workflows that are configurable and straightforward to execute, most often on the DoD High Performance Computing (HPC) assets but also on Cloud based HPC systems. CSTORM models are supported within the Surfacewater Modeling System (SMS) graphical user interface for easy setup, execution, and analysis of model simulations. CSTORM is used extensively by USACE for evaluating proposed coastal storm risk management project alternatives and comparing hazards to without project conditions as well as navigation projects. The modeling capabilities within CSTORM support a wide range of coastal engineering needs for simulating tropical and extra-tropical storms, wind events, waves, tides, riverine forcing, water levels and circulation.