Page "Storm surge" Paragraph 12

Conversely, coastlines along North America such as those along the Gulf of Mexico coast from Texas to Florida, and Asia such as the Bay of Bengal, have long, gently sloping shelves and shallow water depths.

On the Gulf side of Florida, the edge of the Floridian Plateau lies more than offshore of Marco Island in Collier County.

Florida Bay, lying between the Florida Keys and the mainland, is also very shallow ; depths typically vary between and.

These areas are subject to higher storm surges, but smaller waves.

This difference is because in deeper water, a surge can be dispersed down and away from the hurricane.

However, upon entering a shallow, gently sloping shelf, the surge cannot be dispersed, but is driven ashore by the wind stresses of the hurricane.

Topography of the land surface is another important element in storm surge extent.

Areas where the land lies less than a few meters above sea level are at particular risk from storm surge inundation.