Question 1061Navigation General

The correct answer is A) the decrease in atmospheric pressure. The decrease in atmospheric pressure during a hurricane is the primary driver of the storm surge, which can account for 3-4 feet of the total surge height. As the low-pressure center of the hurricane passes, the water level rises to compensate for the reduced air pressure above. This is known as the "inverted barometer effect" and is a key factor in the generation of storm surges. The other options are incorrect because they do not directly contribute to the increase in surge height. An increase in temperature or wave period would not directly impact the storm surge, and while wind velocity is a factor, it is the decrease in atmospheric pressure that is the main driver of the 3-4 feet of surge attributed to this phenomenon.