Given the unique challenges in quantifying the extensive, yet variable impacts of Hurricane Sandy at Fire Island, we used a time series of beach profile data at Fire Island, New York, to define a new contour-based morphologic change metric, the Beach Change Envelope (BCE).
The BCE represents the portion of the upper beach that is likely to undergo direct storm wave impacts and respond in the subsequent days, weeks, and months after the events. Changes in BCE width and BCE height are extracted from the pre- and post-Hurricane Sandy profile time series and found to coincide well with established states of recovery. By capturing and tracking these distinctive changes in upper beach morphology at each state, the BCE offers a new way of characterizing beach response and recovery cycles at Fire Island and similar sandy coastal settings.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Back-barrier and Estuarine - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Oceanside Beaches and Dunes - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Open Ocean/Marine - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Nearshore - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Below are publications associated with this project.
Characterizing storm response and recovery using the beach change envelope: Fire Island, New York
A Bayesian approach to predict sub-annual beach change and recovery
Characterizing storm response and recovery using the beach change envelope: Fire Island, New York
Terrestrial-based lidar beach topography of Fire Island, New York, June 2014
Quantifying the geomorphic resiliency of barrier island beaches
Hurricane Sandy beach response and recovery at Fire Island, New York: Shoreline and beach profile data, October 2012 to October 2014
Ground-based lidar beach topography of Fire Island, New York, April 2013
- Overview
Given the unique challenges in quantifying the extensive, yet variable impacts of Hurricane Sandy at Fire Island, we used a time series of beach profile data at Fire Island, New York, to define a new contour-based morphologic change metric, the Beach Change Envelope (BCE).
The BCE represents the portion of the upper beach that is likely to undergo direct storm wave impacts and respond in the subsequent days, weeks, and months after the events. Changes in BCE width and BCE height are extracted from the pre- and post-Hurricane Sandy profile time series and found to coincide well with established states of recovery. By capturing and tracking these distinctive changes in upper beach morphology at each state, the BCE offers a new way of characterizing beach response and recovery cycles at Fire Island and similar sandy coastal settings.
Beach profile schematic showing positions of BCE metrics including Zu, Zl (calculated BCE bounding values), BCE width, and BCE height which is calculated by comparing the BCE portion of the profile to a planar profile surface (solid red line). Credit: Owen Brenner , USGS Examples of observed beach morphology changes (A) and beach profile data highlighting the BCE morphology at each post-storm recovery stage (B). Credit: Owen Brenner , USGS Conceptual beach profiles illustrating how BCE captures distinct values of BCE height and BCE width at each of the four recovery states. Credit: Owen Brenner , USGS Alongshore BCE recovery state progression from October 2012 to September 2015 showing general trend of post-Sandy recovery along western and central Fire Island. Credit: Owen Brenner , USGS - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Fire Island is a 50-km long barrier island along the south shore of Long Island, New York. The island is comprised of seventeen year-round communities; federal, state, and county parks; and supports distinct ecosystems alongside areas of economic and cultural value. In addition to providing resources to its residents, the barrier island also protects the heavily-populated mainland from storm waves...Back-barrier and Estuarine - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Regional-scale modeling forecasts how atmospheric forcing and oceanographic circulation influence estuarine circulation and water levels, sediment transport, and wetland change.Oceanside Beaches and Dunes - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Oceanfront research at Fire Island, New York, is primarily focused on understanding the long- and short-term behavior of the ocean-facing terrestrial barrier island system, including human influences. The USGS has had ongoing research activities on Fire Island since the late 1990s, providing science to help inform management decisions. Recent efforts include monitoring the response to and recovery...Open Ocean/Marine - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Geophysical mapping and research have demonstrated that the seabed on the inner continental shelf has a variety of shapes which are linked to long-term evolution of the barrier island. Regional-scale modeling forecasts how atmospheric forcing and oceanographic circulation case sand, gravel, and other materials to be transported by tides, winds, waves, fresh water fluxes, and density variations.Nearshore - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
The nearshore is the submerged portion of the shoreface between the inner shelf and the shoreline and includes the surf zone, where waves break. Along with beaches and dunes, nearshore morphology and geology adjusts to changes in waves, sediment supply, human alterations, and sea level rise. By measuring nearshore morphologic and geologic variations, we can understand how quickly beaches and dunes... - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Characterizing storm response and recovery using the beach change envelope: Fire Island, New York
Hurricane Sandy at Fire Island, New York presented unique challenges in the quantification of storm impacts using traditional metrics of coastal change, wherein measured changes (shoreline, dune crest, and volume change) did not fully reflect the substantial changes in sediment redistribution following the storm. We used a time series of beach profile data at Fire Island, New York to define a newA Bayesian approach to predict sub-annual beach change and recovery
The upper beach, between the astronomical high tide and the dune-toe, supports habitat and recreation along many beaches, making predictions of upper beach change valuable to coastal managers and the public. We developed and tested a Bayesian network (BN) to predict the cross-shore position of an upper beach elevation contour (ZlD) following 1 month to 1-year intervals at Fire Island, New York. WeCharacterizing storm response and recovery using the beach change envelope: Fire Island, New York
Hurricane Sandy at Fire Island, New York presented unique challenges in the quantification of storm impacts using traditional metrics of coastal change, wherein measured changes (shoreline, dune crest, and volume change) did not fully reflect the substantial changes in sediment redistribution following the storm. We used a time series of beach profile data at Fire Island, New York to define a newTerrestrial-based lidar beach topography of Fire Island, New York, June 2014
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) in Florida and the USGS Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center (LMG WSC) in Montgomery, Alabama, collaborated to gather alongshore terrestrial-based lidar beach elevation data at Fire Island, New York. This high-resolution elevation dataset was collected on June 11, 2014, to characterize beach topograpQuantifying the geomorphic resiliency of barrier island beaches
Hurricane Sandy had an extensive impact on the beaches along the Atlantic coast. To quantify beach recovery, and examine alongshore variations in coastal resiliency, we develop a morphometric within the upper portion of the beach that is based on observed historical storm response at Fire Island, NY. The beach change envelope (BCE) boundaries are elevation contours which capture the portion of theHurricane Sandy beach response and recovery at Fire Island, New York: Shoreline and beach profile data, October 2012 to October 2014
In response to the forecasted impact of Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall on October 29, 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a substantial data-collection effort to assess the morphological impacts to the beach and dune system at Fire Island, New York. Global positioning system (GPS) field surveys of the beach and dunes were conducted just prior to and after landfall and these data weGround-based lidar beach topography of Fire Island, New York, April 2013
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina, collaborated to gather alongshore ground-based lidar beach elevation data at Fire Island, New York. This high-resolution elevation dataset was collected on April 10, 2013, to characterize beach topography following subst