Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network Geomorphological Monitoring Program - Coastal Topography

Psuty, Norbert

Changes in coastal topography, whether caused by erosion or accretion, vary both spatially and temporally. Understanding these variations is key to early recognition of potential problems affecting natural resources and cultural resources in coastal parks. For managers, an understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns of geomorphologic change is basic to optimal management of any coastal park because the interface of marine and land systems: 1) is highly dynamic and driven by multiple forcing mechanisms; 2) results in alterations to resource patterns and dynamics at habitat and ecosystem levels; and 3) can eventually result in the loss of static resources. The establishment of local, long-term monitoring programs provides metrics (SI, meters) to help understand the processes that are driving coastal change of beaches, dunes, and bluffs within the parks. The Coastal Topography monitoring protocol will be applied to the four coastal parks in the NCBN: Assateague Island National Seashore, Cape Cod National Seashore, Gateway National Recreation Area, and Fire Island National Seashore. Monitoring will be accomplished with state-of-the-art GPS equipment that collects topographic data along pre-established locations spaced at regular intervals augmented by areas of special concern to the parks. A Spatial Monuments Network of high quality reference points will be established for each of the NCBN parks, providing a robust basis for long-term monitoring. Spring and fall surveys conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures will generate coastal topography datasets that will be organized and assembled by a data manager into a national database for subsequent retrieval and additional examination. Dimensional parameters will be measured to describe the beach-dune-bluff system, and attributes will be compared and analyzed in a cross-shore and alongshore perspective, providing information about the temporal and spatial changes on beach-dune-bluff morphologies in the parks. The overall goal is to create a replicable means of data gathering that is efficient, adheres to scientific principles, and meets the management needs of the coastal parks.

Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network Geomorphological Monitoring Program - Coastal Topography

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