Tropical storms and hurricanes wreak havoc with coastal forests where damage can vary with wind speed and approach from isolated treefalls to wide-area blowdowns of whole forests.
The Science Issue and Relevance: Tropical storms and hurricanes wreak havoc with coastal forests where damage can vary with wind speed and approach from isolated treefalls to wide-area blowdowns of whole forests. More often forest damage is somewhat diffuse and distributed over a large area given typical storm expanse and waning wind speeds with distance away from the eye of the storm. The direction of windfall also differs with site location relative to storm path whether on the backside or foreside of the storm track. Department of the Interior (DOI) land managers require information on the full extent of forest damage to clear roads and trails and to plan salvage operations, research or restoration efforts. Aerial surveys are necessary to capture the whole landscape perspective and a proper assessment of spatial aspects of forest impact, whether light or heavy, in guiding decisions about recovery, research, and restoration.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Aerial videography was filmed from low-altitude overflights by seaplane above primary study sites where forest damage was most extensive. Associated ground surveys were conducted to georeference each treefall along with notation of species, size and compass azimuth of treefall orientation. Single frame analysis of video tracks and field transect measurements were used to classify degree of forest damage and angle of treefall to estimate the spatial extent of damage and to elucidate causal relations with peak winds and storm surge inundation. Overlay maps were created to associate treefall field data with aerial image determinations to validate and relate observations from both observation sets.
Future Steps: The project will produce an understanding of the interaction of storm surge tides on soil liquefaction and wind force and direction that can be applied in explicit landscape simulation models to improve predictive modeling of future ecosystem consequences under climate change and increasing hurricane frequency and intensity.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Assessing Coastal Forest Impacts and Resource Management Implications following Hurricane Sandy
Assessment of Wetland Area Change and Shoreline Erosion Due to Hurricane Sandy
Natural Resources Assessment of Tribal Lands Impacted by Hurricane Sandy
Assessing Treefall Patterns and Causal Relations of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
Dendrochronology of Coastal Forests to Evaluate Impacts of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
Aerial Videography Overflights of Forest Cover and Impact from Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic Coast, USA
Hurricane Sandy Surge and Marsh Dieback in the New Jersey Coastal Zone
Hurricane Sandy Spatial Data Mapping Application
Predicting the Long-Term Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Spatial Patterns of Wetland Morphology in Salt Marshes of Jamaica Bay, New York
- Overview
Tropical storms and hurricanes wreak havoc with coastal forests where damage can vary with wind speed and approach from isolated treefalls to wide-area blowdowns of whole forests.
Aerial image, Chincoteague NWR boundary The Science Issue and Relevance: Tropical storms and hurricanes wreak havoc with coastal forests where damage can vary with wind speed and approach from isolated treefalls to wide-area blowdowns of whole forests. More often forest damage is somewhat diffuse and distributed over a large area given typical storm expanse and waning wind speeds with distance away from the eye of the storm. The direction of windfall also differs with site location relative to storm path whether on the backside or foreside of the storm track. Department of the Interior (DOI) land managers require information on the full extent of forest damage to clear roads and trails and to plan salvage operations, research or restoration efforts. Aerial surveys are necessary to capture the whole landscape perspective and a proper assessment of spatial aspects of forest impact, whether light or heavy, in guiding decisions about recovery, research, and restoration.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Aerial videography was filmed from low-altitude overflights by seaplane above primary study sites where forest damage was most extensive. Associated ground surveys were conducted to georeference each treefall along with notation of species, size and compass azimuth of treefall orientation. Single frame analysis of video tracks and field transect measurements were used to classify degree of forest damage and angle of treefall to estimate the spatial extent of damage and to elucidate causal relations with peak winds and storm surge inundation. Overlay maps were created to associate treefall field data with aerial image determinations to validate and relate observations from both observation sets.
Aerial videography was filmed from low-altitude overflights by seaplane above primary study sites where forest damage was most extensive. Future Steps: The project will produce an understanding of the interaction of storm surge tides on soil liquefaction and wind force and direction that can be applied in explicit landscape simulation models to improve predictive modeling of future ecosystem consequences under climate change and increasing hurricane frequency and intensity.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Assessing Coastal Forest Impacts and Resource Management Implications following Hurricane Sandy
Tropical storms and hurricanes wreak havoc with coastal forests where damage can vary with wind speed and approach from isolated treefalls to wide-area blowdowns of whole forests.Assessment of Wetland Area Change and Shoreline Erosion Due to Hurricane Sandy
Significant damage to coastal communities and surrounding wetlands of the north Atlantic states was caused by Hurricane Sandy in late October 2012, mostly tied to an associated storm surge of record extent and impact.Natural Resources Assessment of Tribal Lands Impacted by Hurricane Sandy
USGS is committed to meeting the science needs of four Native American Tribes impacted by Hurricane Sandy in New England and New York: the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head - Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard, MA; the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe on Cape Cod, MA; the Narragansett Indian Tribe near Charlestown, RI; and the Shinnecock Indian Nation on Long Island.Assessing Treefall Patterns and Causal Relations of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
As tropical storms and hurricanes move onshore and make landfall, wind and storm surge can be sufficiently high to damage built-infrastructure and natural systems, most notably coastal forests at the interface of land and sea.Dendrochronology of Coastal Forests to Evaluate Impacts of Wind and Surge from Hurricane Sandy
The science of dating growth rings and history of live and fossil wood samples is called dendrochronology. This technique is valuable for conducting climate reconstructions where meteorological data is lacking and for detecting past disturbance events such as tropical storms and hurricanes.Aerial Videography Overflights of Forest Cover and Impact from Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic Coast, USA
High resolution imagery (aerial videography) was obtained of Hurricane Sandy to assess forest damage by documenting disturbed canopy and downed trees.Hurricane Sandy Surge and Marsh Dieback in the New Jersey Coastal Zone
Detection of storm surge impacts on coastal marshes requires regional or broader mapping of surge flooding above and below the wetland canopy and estimation of abnormal change in wetland condition.Hurricane Sandy Spatial Data Mapping Application
USGS scientists at the Wetland and Aquatic Research Center and other offices received funding for studies related to habitat change, storm surge and ecological modeling, migratory bird impacts, and other topics of interest. The Hurricane Sandy Spatial Data Mapping Application showcases the data and analytical products resulting from these studies.Predicting the Long-Term Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Spatial Patterns of Wetland Morphology in Salt Marshes of Jamaica Bay, New York
USGS scientists are working with collaborators to understand how Hurricane Sandy impacted wetlands in Jamaica Bay, New York. - Publications