Development of a geomorphological map of Assateague Island National Seashore: Principal characteristics and components
Psuty NP, Beal I, Schmelz W, Spahn A. 2018. Development of a geomorphological map of Assateague Island National Seashore: Principal characteristics and components. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2018/1592. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report incorporates the post-Sandy geomorphological map, its philosophical underpinnings, legend descriptions, and the GIS data layers for the Maryland portion of Assateague Island National Seashore. The theme of the map follows the current scientific organization of geomorphological mapping that includes morphometrics, causative processes, and evolutionary stages. Surface form was interpreted from data sets including recent orthophotos and recent Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data sets, augmented with spatial information on geomorphology, soils, and vegetation, as well as field visits. The geomorphological features of the site include: 1) coastal topography that was created during an early phase of coastal barrier island development; 2) coastal topography that developed seaward of the early stage of barrier island evolution; 3) coastal topography that resulted from episodic breaches, inlet formation, and inlet closure; and 4) anthropogenic modifications to the natural topography, consisting of fill or excavation. The geomorphological map and its legend portray the spatial and temporal association of the surface features created during these stages of landscape development, as well as the broad anthropogenic alterations of the landscape. This portrayal of surface form is based on data sets from the post-Hurricane Sandy period (post-October 2012).
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Psuty, Norbert; Beal, Irina; Schmelz, William; Spahn, Andrea
- Date of Issue
- 2018-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ASIS , GRD , GRI , NRSS
- Keywords
- ASIS, Assateague Island National Seashore, Coastal Processes, Geologic Resources Division, Geologic Resources Inventory, Geomorphological Map, Geomorphology, GRD, GRI, Maryland, Resource Management, Virginia
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Coastal/Oceanographic Features and Processes , Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Marine Features and Processes