Using Video Imagery to Study Wave Dynamics: Unalakleet
USGS scientists installed two video cameras atop a windmill tower in Unalakleet, Alaska, pointing westward over Norton Sound, to observe and quantify coastal processes such as wave run-up, development of rip channels, bluff erosion, and movement of sandbars and ice floes.
The village of Unalakleet is established on a low-lying barrier spit at the eastern end of Norton Sound at the mouth of the Unalakleet River. The region is vulnerable to marine flooding during large storm events. Storm surge in Norton Sound typically occurs in the fall and winter months when the coastline is protected by shorefast ice. Warming trends in the Arctic have resulted in reduced ice coverage and increased occurrence of wave events impacting coasts. This camera system was installed by the USGS in collaboration with Alaska DGGS (Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys), the Native Village of Unalakleet, and the City of Unalakleet to better understand wave and water-level dynamics in Norton Sound.
Every half hour during daylight hours, the cameras collected snapshots and video for 10 minutes. Examples of the types of images collected are shown below.
These and other images are used to observe and quantify coastal processes such as wave run-up, development of rip channels, bluff erosion, and movement of sandbars and ice floes. For water level and meteorological observations at the Unalakleet station, visit the NOAA Tides & Currents site.
Currently, USGS video cameras are active at these locations:
- Dream Inn hotel in Santa Cruz, California
- Head of the Meadow Beach, Massachusetts
- Marconi Beach, Massachusetts
- Norton Sound, Unalakleet, Alaska
- Nuvuk (Point Barrow), Alaska
- Sunset State Beach, California
The knowledge gained from these coastal camera studies will improve computer-derived simulations of shoreline change that communities can use to plan for sea-level rise, changing storm patterns, and other threats to coasts.
Click the image below to access the latest imagery and wave data.
Webcams and wave-buoy data show coastal imagery and wave characteristics in Unalakleet, AK
Below are the projects that use the data collected by the video cameras, as well as other locations where similar video cameras are or were previously installed.
Remote Sensing Coastal Change
Climate impacts to Arctic coasts
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Santa Cruz Beaches
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Sunset State Beach
Using Video Imagery to Study Sediment Transport and Wave Dynamics: Nuvuk (Point Barrow)
Using Video Imagery to Study Marconi Beach
USGS scientists installed two video cameras atop a windmill tower in Unalakleet, Alaska, pointing westward over Norton Sound, to observe and quantify coastal processes such as wave run-up, development of rip channels, bluff erosion, and movement of sandbars and ice floes.
The village of Unalakleet is established on a low-lying barrier spit at the eastern end of Norton Sound at the mouth of the Unalakleet River. The region is vulnerable to marine flooding during large storm events. Storm surge in Norton Sound typically occurs in the fall and winter months when the coastline is protected by shorefast ice. Warming trends in the Arctic have resulted in reduced ice coverage and increased occurrence of wave events impacting coasts. This camera system was installed by the USGS in collaboration with Alaska DGGS (Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys), the Native Village of Unalakleet, and the City of Unalakleet to better understand wave and water-level dynamics in Norton Sound.
Every half hour during daylight hours, the cameras collected snapshots and video for 10 minutes. Examples of the types of images collected are shown below.
These and other images are used to observe and quantify coastal processes such as wave run-up, development of rip channels, bluff erosion, and movement of sandbars and ice floes. For water level and meteorological observations at the Unalakleet station, visit the NOAA Tides & Currents site.
Currently, USGS video cameras are active at these locations:
- Dream Inn hotel in Santa Cruz, California
- Head of the Meadow Beach, Massachusetts
- Marconi Beach, Massachusetts
- Norton Sound, Unalakleet, Alaska
- Nuvuk (Point Barrow), Alaska
- Sunset State Beach, California
The knowledge gained from these coastal camera studies will improve computer-derived simulations of shoreline change that communities can use to plan for sea-level rise, changing storm patterns, and other threats to coasts.
Click the image below to access the latest imagery and wave data.
Webcams and wave-buoy data show coastal imagery and wave characteristics in Unalakleet, AK
Below are the projects that use the data collected by the video cameras, as well as other locations where similar video cameras are or were previously installed.