Shoreline change at Cape Lookout National Seashore: 2018–2019 data summary

Baron, Lisa

In 2018 and 2019 the Southeast Coast Network collected shoreline data at Cape Lookout National Seashore as a part of the NPS Vital Signs Monitoring Program. High tide line data were collected in spring 2018, fall 2018, and spring 2019. Monitoring was conducted following methods developed by the National Park Service Northeast Barrier Coast Network and consisted of mapping the high tide swash line using a global positioning system (GPS) unit in the spring of each year (Psuty et al. 2010). Shoreline change was calculated using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System developed by USGS (Theiler et al. 2008). Key findings from this effort are as follows: • A mean of 92.74 kilometers (57.63 miles [mi]) of shoreline were mapped from 2018 to 2019 with a mean horizontal precision of 10.49 centimeters (4.13 inches [in]). • The mean shoreline change distance from spring 2018 to spring 2019 was -7.25 meters (-23.8 feet [ft]) with a standard deviation of 19.68 meters (64.57 ft). The shoreline change distance ranged from -243.62 to 136.99 meters (-799.28 to 449.44 ft) . • High erosion areas were present in the spring 2018 to spring 2019 shoreline survey analysis. 31.02 % of the transects were located in areas of erosion beyond the uncertainty range of the data (± 10 meters [32.8 ft]). • High accretion areas were present in the spring 2018 to spring 2019 shoreline survey analysis. 6.17 % of the transects were located in areas of accretion beyond the uncertainty range of the data (± 10 meters [32.8 ft]). • The mean shoreline change distance from spring 2018 to fall 2018 was -25.96 meters (-85.17 ft) with a standard deviation of 18.50 meters. The shoreline change distance ranged from -410.58 to 59.26 meters (-1,347.05 to 194.42 ft). • High erosion areas were present in the spring 2018 to fall 2018 shoreline survey analysis. 87.06 % of the transects were located in areas of erosion beyond the uncertainty range of the data (± 10 meters [32.8 ft]). • High accretion areas were present in the spring 2018 to fall 2018 shoreline survey analysis. 1.41 % of the transects were located in areas of accretion beyond the uncertainty range of the data (± 10 meters [32.8 ft]). • The mean shoreline change distance from fall 2018 to spring 2019 was 20.72 meters (67.98 ft) with a standard deviation of 18.78 meters (61.61 ft). The shoreline change distance ranged from -36.65 to 323.02 meters (-120.24 to 1,059.78 ft). • High erosion areas were present in the fall 2018 to spring 2019 shoreline survey analysis. 2.28 % of the transects were located in areas of erosion beyond the uncertainty range of the data (± 10 meters [32.8 ft]). • High accretion areas were present in the fall 2018 to spring 2019 shoreline survey analysis. 73.27 % of the transects were located in areas of accretion beyond the uncertainty range of the data (± 10 meters [32.8 ft]).

Shoreline change at Cape Lookout National Seashore: 2018–2019 data summary

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