Coastal change forecasts and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change for landfalling storms. Currently responding to Hurricane Dorian.
To better understand storm impacts on the coast, the USGS National Assessment of Storm-Induced Coastal Change Hazards group will often respond to landfalling events. A response is triggered by a number of factors including events where landfall has a high likelihood of causing significant coastal change, where there are expected to be significant societal or ecosystem impacts, or where there are overlaps with ongoing research or applied efforts.
Response activities include:
- Documenting pre-storm morphology using lidar topography, oblique aerial photography, and ground GPS surveys to determine the state of the beach before storm impact.
- Forecasting the probability of coastal change by comparing modeled elevations of storm-induced water levels to known elevations of coastal topography.
- Measuring post-storm morphology using lidar topography, oblique aerial photography, and ground GPS surveys to determine the state of the beach after storm impact.
- Quantifying storm-induced coastal change including dune elevation change, shoreline change, and volume change by comparing pre- and post-storm morphology.
- Evaluating and improving accuracy of pre-storm forecast of coastal change.
- Updating scenario-based coastal change forecasts using post-storm beach morphology.
To view probabilities of coastal change for the entire U.S. coast during generalized storm conditions, see the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Portal.
Storm Forecasts and Documenation of Coastal Change
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2012
2011
2005
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Hurricane Dorian - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Isaac - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Joaquin - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Matthew - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Harvey - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Irma - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Nate - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Forecasting Coastal Change
National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer
Total water level (TWL) at the shoreline is the combination of tides, surge, and wave runup. A forecast of TWL is an estimate of the elevation where the ocean will meet the coast and can provide guidance on potential coastal erosion and flooding hazards.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Testing model parameters for wave‐induced dune erosion using observations from Hurricane Sandy
Evaluation of wave runup predictions from numerical and parametric models
Scaling coastal dune elevation changes across storm-impact regimes
Forecasting hurricane impact on coastal topography: Hurricane Ike
Extraction of lidar-based dune-crest elevations for use in examining the vulnerability of beaches to inundation during hurricanes
Below are news stories associated with this project.
- Overview
Coastal change forecasts and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change for landfalling storms. Currently responding to Hurricane Dorian.
To better understand storm impacts on the coast, the USGS National Assessment of Storm-Induced Coastal Change Hazards group will often respond to landfalling events. A response is triggered by a number of factors including events where landfall has a high likelihood of causing significant coastal change, where there are expected to be significant societal or ecosystem impacts, or where there are overlaps with ongoing research or applied efforts.
Response activities include:
- Documenting pre-storm morphology using lidar topography, oblique aerial photography, and ground GPS surveys to determine the state of the beach before storm impact.
- Forecasting the probability of coastal change by comparing modeled elevations of storm-induced water levels to known elevations of coastal topography.
- Measuring post-storm morphology using lidar topography, oblique aerial photography, and ground GPS surveys to determine the state of the beach after storm impact.
- Quantifying storm-induced coastal change including dune elevation change, shoreline change, and volume change by comparing pre- and post-storm morphology.
- Evaluating and improving accuracy of pre-storm forecast of coastal change.
- Updating scenario-based coastal change forecasts using post-storm beach morphology.
To view probabilities of coastal change for the entire U.S. coast during generalized storm conditions, see the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Portal.
Storm Forecasts and Documenation of Coastal Change
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2012
2011
2005
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Hurricane Dorian - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Dorian coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.Hurricane Isaac - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Isaac coastal change forecast, pre- and post-storm photos, and lidar elevation maps document coastal change.Hurricane Joaquin - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Joaquin coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.Hurricane Matthew - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Matthew coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.Hurricane Harvey - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Harvey coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.Hurricane Irma - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Irma coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.Hurricane Nate - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Nate coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.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.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. - Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer
Total water level (TWL) at the shoreline is the combination of tides, surge, and wave runup. A forecast of TWL is an estimate of the elevation where the ocean will meet the coast and can provide guidance on potential coastal erosion and flooding hazards.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Testing model parameters for wave‐induced dune erosion using observations from Hurricane Sandy
Models of dune erosion depend on a set of assumptions that dictate the predicted evolution of dunes throughout the duration of a storm. Lidar observations made before and after Hurricane Sandy at over 800 profiles with diverse dune elevations, widths, and volumes are used to quantify specific dune erosion model parameters including the dune face slope, which controls dune avalanching, and the trajEvaluation of wave runup predictions from numerical and parametric models
Wave runup during storms is a primary driver of coastal evolution, including shoreline and dune erosion and barrier island overwash. Runup and its components, setup and swash, can be predicted from a parameterized model that was developed by comparing runup observations to offshore wave height, wave period, and local beach slope. Because observations during extreme storms are often unavailable, aScaling coastal dune elevation changes across storm-impact regimes
Extreme storms drive change in coastal areas, including destruction of dune systems that protect coastal populations. Data from four extreme storms impacting four geomorphically diverse barrier islands are used to quantify dune elevation change. This change is compared to storm characteristics to identify variability in dune response, improve understanding of morphological interactions, and providForecasting hurricane impact on coastal topography: Hurricane Ike
Extreme storms can have a profound impact on coastal topography and thus on ecosystems and human-built structures within coastal regions. For instance, landfalls of several recent major hurricanes have caused significant changes to the U.S. coastline, particularly along the Gulf of Mexico. Some of these hurricanes (e.g., Ivan in 2004, Katrina and Rita in 2005, and Gustav and Ike in 2008) led to shExtraction of lidar-based dune-crest elevations for use in examining the vulnerability of beaches to inundation during hurricanes
The morphology of coastal sand dunes plays an important role in determining how a beach will respond to a hurricane. Accurate measurements of dune height and position are essential for assessing the vulnerability of beaches to extreme coastal change during future landfalls. Lidar topographic surveys provide rapid, accurate, high-resolution datasets for identifying the location, position, and morph - News
Below are news stories associated with this project.