Time-averaged images, which represent the time-mean of all the images collected during a video, are used to identify areas where waves are breaking, which show up as bright white bands in the image.
Operational Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecasts
Active
By St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
January 24, 2018
The viewer shows predictions of the timing and magnitude of water levels at the shoreline and potential impacts to coastal dunes.
Open the Operational Total Water Level and Coastal Change Viewer.
The USGS National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project is working with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) to combine wave predictions from the Nearshore Wave Prediction System (NWPS) with USGS-derived beach morphology to provide regional weather offices detailed forecasts of wave-induced water levels. The interagency operational model is available at select pilot sites and model forecast can be accessed in the Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast viewer. The viewer includes predictions of the timing and magnitude of water levels at the shoreline and potential impacts to coastal dunes.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The primary components of total water level elevation along the coast include tides, surge, and wave-induced runup. However, existing operational water level models do not account for wave-driven water levels. The USGS National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project is working with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) to combine wave predictions from the Nearshore Wave Prediction System (NWPS) with USGS-derived beach morphology to provide regional weather offices detailed forecasts of wave-induced water levels.
A pilot study is on-going at Duck, North Carolina, with additional sites to follow. For each study area, tides and subtidal water levels are provided by the Extratropical Surge and Tide Operations Forecast Systems (ESTOFS) and wave properties (wave height and period) are being provided along the 20-meter isobath by the NWPS. These wave characteristics provide input for the empirical wave runup model developed by Stockdon and others (2006). Beach slopes and slope uncertainty, also required by the wave runup model, are provided from multiple USGS lidar surveys in the same area. The method for determining average beach slope for U. S. sandy coastlines, along with published datasets, is published in Doran and others (2015). The spatial and temporal uncertainty in total water level due to variability in beach slope and wave height and period is also predicted using the methodology described in Doran and others (2015). Existing and future pilot sites will be instrumented with video remote sensing equipment to provide observations of total water levels for comparison to predicted values. In addition, processes driving extreme water levels and sediment transport under storm conditions will be explored to improve predictions.
Explore our geonarrative to learn more about research and tools developed to forecast real-time coastal change:
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Forecasting Coastal Change
This project focuses on understanding the magnitude and variability of extreme storm impacts on sandy beaches. The overall objective is to improve real-time and scenario-based predictions of coastal change to support management of coastal infrastructure, resources, and safety.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Jose, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Nate, Hurricane Sandy
National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards
Research to identify areas that are most vulnerable to coastal change hazards including beach and dune erosion, long-term shoreline change, and sea-level rise.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Jose, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Sandy
Video Remote Sensing of Coastal Processes
Video observations of the coast are used to monitor a range of coastal processes, for example changes in the shoreline position, both seasonally and due to long-term effects such as sea-level rise, and instances of beach and dune erosion during extreme storm events.
Time-averaged image at Madeira Beach, Florida, Camera 2
Time-averaged images, which represent the time-mean of all the images collected during a video, are used to identify areas where waves are breaking, which show up as bright white bands in the image.
Most recent snapshot at Madeira Beach, Florida, Camera 2
Most recent snapshot from Camera 2 at Madeira Beach, Florida. Camera hosted by Shoreline Island Resort.
Most recent snapshot from Camera 2 at Madeira Beach, Florida. Camera hosted by Shoreline Island Resort.
Snapshot image for Sand Key, Florida
A current view of the most recent snapshot from a webcam located in Sand Key, Florida.
A current view of the most recent snapshot from a webcam located in Sand Key, Florida.
Time-averaged image at Madeira Beach, Florida, Camera 1
Time-averaged images, which represent the time-mean of all the images collected during a video, are used to identify areas where waves are breaking, which show up as bright white bands in the image.
Time-averaged images, which represent the time-mean of all the images collected during a video, are used to identify areas where waves are breaking, which show up as bright white bands in the image.
Time-averaged image for Sand Key, Florida
Most recent time-averaged image from Sand Key, Florida. The images are used to examine a range of coastal processes including shoreline position, the presence of an offshore sandbar, and the extent of wave runup on the beach. Camera hosted by Dan's Island Condo.
Most recent time-averaged image from Sand Key, Florida. The images are used to examine a range of coastal processes including shoreline position, the presence of an offshore sandbar, and the extent of wave runup on the beach. Camera hosted by Dan's Island Condo.
Most recent snapshot at Madeira Beach, Florida, Camera 1
Most recent snapshot from Camera 1 at Madeira Beach, Florida. Camera hosted by Shoreline Island Resort.
Most recent snapshot from Camera 1 at Madeira Beach, Florida. Camera hosted by Shoreline Island Resort.
The viewer shows predictions of the timing and magnitude of water levels at the shoreline and potential impacts to coastal dunes.
Open the Operational Total Water Level and Coastal Change Viewer.
The USGS National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project is working with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) to combine wave predictions from the Nearshore Wave Prediction System (NWPS) with USGS-derived beach morphology to provide regional weather offices detailed forecasts of wave-induced water levels. The interagency operational model is available at select pilot sites and model forecast can be accessed in the Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast viewer. The viewer includes predictions of the timing and magnitude of water levels at the shoreline and potential impacts to coastal dunes.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The primary components of total water level elevation along the coast include tides, surge, and wave-induced runup. However, existing operational water level models do not account for wave-driven water levels. The USGS National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project is working with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) to combine wave predictions from the Nearshore Wave Prediction System (NWPS) with USGS-derived beach morphology to provide regional weather offices detailed forecasts of wave-induced water levels.
A pilot study is on-going at Duck, North Carolina, with additional sites to follow. For each study area, tides and subtidal water levels are provided by the Extratropical Surge and Tide Operations Forecast Systems (ESTOFS) and wave properties (wave height and period) are being provided along the 20-meter isobath by the NWPS. These wave characteristics provide input for the empirical wave runup model developed by Stockdon and others (2006). Beach slopes and slope uncertainty, also required by the wave runup model, are provided from multiple USGS lidar surveys in the same area. The method for determining average beach slope for U. S. sandy coastlines, along with published datasets, is published in Doran and others (2015). The spatial and temporal uncertainty in total water level due to variability in beach slope and wave height and period is also predicted using the methodology described in Doran and others (2015). Existing and future pilot sites will be instrumented with video remote sensing equipment to provide observations of total water levels for comparison to predicted values. In addition, processes driving extreme water levels and sediment transport under storm conditions will be explored to improve predictions.
Explore our geonarrative to learn more about research and tools developed to forecast real-time coastal change:
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Forecasting Coastal Change
This project focuses on understanding the magnitude and variability of extreme storm impacts on sandy beaches. The overall objective is to improve real-time and scenario-based predictions of coastal change to support management of coastal infrastructure, resources, and safety.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Jose, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Nate, Hurricane Sandy
National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards
Research to identify areas that are most vulnerable to coastal change hazards including beach and dune erosion, long-term shoreline change, and sea-level rise.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Jose, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Sandy
Video Remote Sensing of Coastal Processes
Video observations of the coast are used to monitor a range of coastal processes, for example changes in the shoreline position, both seasonally and due to long-term effects such as sea-level rise, and instances of beach and dune erosion during extreme storm events.
Time-averaged image at Madeira Beach, Florida, Camera 2
Time-averaged images, which represent the time-mean of all the images collected during a video, are used to identify areas where waves are breaking, which show up as bright white bands in the image.
Time-averaged images, which represent the time-mean of all the images collected during a video, are used to identify areas where waves are breaking, which show up as bright white bands in the image.
Most recent snapshot at Madeira Beach, Florida, Camera 2
Most recent snapshot from Camera 2 at Madeira Beach, Florida. Camera hosted by Shoreline Island Resort.
Most recent snapshot from Camera 2 at Madeira Beach, Florida. Camera hosted by Shoreline Island Resort.
Snapshot image for Sand Key, Florida
A current view of the most recent snapshot from a webcam located in Sand Key, Florida.
A current view of the most recent snapshot from a webcam located in Sand Key, Florida.
Time-averaged image at Madeira Beach, Florida, Camera 1
Time-averaged images, which represent the time-mean of all the images collected during a video, are used to identify areas where waves are breaking, which show up as bright white bands in the image.
Time-averaged images, which represent the time-mean of all the images collected during a video, are used to identify areas where waves are breaking, which show up as bright white bands in the image.
Time-averaged image for Sand Key, Florida
Most recent time-averaged image from Sand Key, Florida. The images are used to examine a range of coastal processes including shoreline position, the presence of an offshore sandbar, and the extent of wave runup on the beach. Camera hosted by Dan's Island Condo.
Most recent time-averaged image from Sand Key, Florida. The images are used to examine a range of coastal processes including shoreline position, the presence of an offshore sandbar, and the extent of wave runup on the beach. Camera hosted by Dan's Island Condo.
Most recent snapshot at Madeira Beach, Florida, Camera 1
Most recent snapshot from Camera 1 at Madeira Beach, Florida. Camera hosted by Shoreline Island Resort.
Most recent snapshot from Camera 1 at Madeira Beach, Florida. Camera hosted by Shoreline Island Resort.