In September 2017, as Hurricane Irma approached South Florida, many residents focused on preparing their homes and families for the storm. At the same time, scientists like Wei Huang, a physical oceanographer at Florida International University (FIU), turned their attention to Biscayne Bay and how such storms impact its waters.
Huang’s research aims to map the hidden movements of water beneath the surface during powerful storms—a phenomenon not well understood until now. Her work offers insight into how hurricanes affect currents in Biscayne Bay and could improve predictions about flooding risks and pollution spread following extreme weather events. This research can guide local authorities in making decisions about evacuations and managing freshwater releases after storms to protect both ecosystems and communities. The latest results from this study have been published in ScienceDirect.
Biscayne Bay plays a vital role for Miami-Dade County and surrounding areas. It connects land to ocean through seven major inlets, supports tourism, marine life, and residents living along its shores. The bay also borders the southeastern Everglades, linking it closely with regional water management systems.
According to Huang, “It’s a pathway to understanding coastal hazards to improve resilience and sustainability for South Florida coastal communities and ecosystems.” She notes that water movement in Biscayne Bay is complex; instead of flowing simply in or out, currents swirl in patterns that influence everything from fish larvae survival to how pollutants disperse.
Hurricanes complicate these dynamics even further by twisting currents unpredictably. As restored freshwater flows from the Everglades through canals into Biscayne Bay after storms, it often brings pollutants—including persistent “forever chemicals”—that are carried along with the shifting waters.
To study these effects more closely, Huang uses advanced computer modeling techniques. She recently simulated Hurricane Irma’s impact on the bay—tracking changes in water levels, circulation patterns, and sediment movement across different areas. The findings confirmed that Irma’s strong winds significantly altered circulation within Biscayne Bay, dispersing marine life and spreading pollutants farther than anticipated.
Huang is expanding her analysis by examining data from 12 additional storms to identify long-term trends affecting the region’s waterways.
