Lack of Impact of Hurricane Michelle on Tidal Flats, Andros Island, Bahamas: Integrated Remote Sensing and Field Observations

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of Hurricane Michelle on the carbonate tidal flats of Andros Island, Bahamas, by coupling remote-sensing data and field observations. Although regional MODIS remote-sensing data reveal that the passage of Hurricane Michelle suspended sediments across the shallow bank, integrating ultra-high-resolution remote-sensing data with field observations demonstrates that the hurricane had almost no impact the Andros Islands tidal flats.

This lack of impact is surprising because the storm still had hurricane- force winds as it passed immediately over some of the focal areas. With this hurricane, storm strength and intra-storm interval probably were not limiting factors. Instead, several influences combined to minimize the storm's impact on both sediment and erosion, including the low level of water on the bank resulting from ebb tides and, in the northwestern area, from offshore storm winds, and the short duration of the storm resulting from its high forward velocity.