Estimating extreme water levels in Torres Strait

The Torres Strait, located between Queensland and Papua New Guinea, is a remote region having significant complexity and diversity of geophysical parameters, low levels of reliable insitu information and with a widespread community vulnerable to the impacts of the sea. There have been many individual studies over time into various aspects of the geomorphology, oceanography, tides and meteorology of the region, but none have previously addressed the quantification of the extreme ocean water levels that can possibly occur. This paper describes a recent study that has provided this essential information, which can now be used to perform detailed community vulnerability mapping and risk assessments as well as forming a rational basis for adaptation planning for climate change and for assisting in the design of emergency services. The study has also significantly improved knowledge of the land-sea elevation datum across the various island communities and provides estimates of the community risks from extreme winds.