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Geomorphic Investigations of Tidal Inlets: |
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This work focuses on relationships between wave climate, tides, sediment
distributions, sea level, anthropogenic structures, and tidal inlets.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Coastal Inlet Research Program funds the
project. The main objective of this project is to study the
effects of inlet stabilization by engineering works on inlet geomorphology
and inlet behavior over a long-term (decadal) time scale. Sebastian
Inlet on the Atlantic Coast of Florida and Shinnecock Inlet on Long Island, New
York are being used as case studies. The project methodology includes
shoreline extraction from a database of aerial photography and the creation
of gridded topographic surfaces from hydrographic surveys and beach profiles.
From these datasets, volume and spatial change calculations will be performed.
It is thought that spatial and temporal changes in the ebb/flood shoal system
and associated sediment pathways can be statistically correlated to variations
in sea level, wave climate, and engineering activities such as channel dredging
and beach nourishment.
Long Island Study Area
The methodology for this portion of the case study consisted of the following steps:
1. Obtain aerial imagery from the south shore of Long Island from just east of Fire Island Inlet to Sagaponack Pond, east of Shinnecock Inlet and Mecox Bay. Aerial images were acquired for the following years: 1976, 1980, 1983, 1988, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999.
2. Imagery imported into ESRI Arcview and aligned to1999 georeferenced USGS DOQQ's (Digital Ortho Quarter Quadrangles)
3. Using the BeachTools extension, shoreline shapefiles were created for each of the study years. Then, a single baseline was created for use with all shorelines. Once the baseline was created and the shoreline shapefiles were complete, transect lines were created at 25 foot intervals for the entire study area. The transect lines created a table consisting of numerical values for the vegetation line and saturation line. These figures will be manipulated to create graphic interpretations of shoreline change over a period of time for the study area.
For a detailed description of the procedure, click here. To view local areas, click on the interactive map below.
August 1976, Hurricane
Belle
Hurricane Belle was a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of
105 knots. Landfall was made early on August 10 on the south coast
of Long Island. The point of landfall is estimated to be in the vicinity
of Jones Beach on western Long Island. Click here to
view a storm surge map of a Category 3 hurricane hitting Long Island.
September 1985, Hurricane
Gloria
Click here
for more info on Hurricane Gloria.
September 1985, Tropical
Storm Henri
August 1988, Tropical
Storm Chris
August 1990, Hurricane
Bob
August 1994, Tropical
Storm Beryl
July 1996, Hurricane
Bertha
September 1999, Hurricane
Floyd
Click here
to read a USA Today article concerning the flooding of Long Island
caused by Hurricane Floyd.
For more info:
A History of Shinnecock Inlet
Through Aerial Photos
Sea Conditions at
Shinnecock Inlet
Shinnecock
Inlet Tidal Benchmarks
USACE,
NY District, Fire Island to Montauk Point
Fire
Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet Interim Project
The Sand Thieves of Long
Island's South Shore
Troubled
Waters: Long Island Beach Replenishment
The
Great Hurricane of 1938--The Long Island Express
New England Hurricane
of 1938
Page created
and maintained by Michelle Snyder
sopeters@fit.edu