Assessing Coastal Evolution by Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Model Shoreline Changes in Galveston Over Time and After Intense Storm Events

Assessing Coastal Evolution by Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Model Shoreline Changes in Galveston Over Time and After Intense Storm Events PDF Author: Alexcia C. Gray
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 294

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Book Description
As human populations increase along coastlines, more emphasis is being placed on environmental protection, impact assessment and geomorphic evolution in coastal regions. Coastlines the world over play an important role in the economy of a nation but their location and geology makes them vulnerable to natural disasters. South Texas is no exception. Hurricanes invariably wreak havoc in the Gulf of Mexico on a yearly basis. Various methods are emerging to aid in the modeling of shoreline processes, specifically with the use of remote sensing and GIS-based data analyses. By comparing satellite imagery over long periods of time and before and after intense storm events, we can determine how much shorelines are changing in response to gradual evolution as well as catastrophic events, in order to develop better models for coastal processes. In this study, Galveston Bay and the surrounding area were investigated through analyses of aerial imagery data for 3 different times---1996, 2008 before Hurricane Ike and 2008 after Hurricane Ike which severely modified the Texas coastline in September 2008. Coastal landforms, including barrier islands, spits, bars and dunes and urban development are mapped at the 1km scale to show the changes in coastal geomorphology as a result of the passage of time as well as the catastrophic impact of one of the most destructive hurricanes to ever impact the Texas coast in recorded history. The findings suggest that over a period of 12 years (1996--2008), catastrophic events have a more significant impact on coastal geomorphology than coastal evolution due to the gradual passage of time.

Assessing Coastal Evolution by Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Model Shoreline Changes in Galveston Over Time and After Intense Storm Events

Assessing Coastal Evolution by Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Model Shoreline Changes in Galveston Over Time and After Intense Storm Events PDF Author: Alexcia C. Gray
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 294

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Book Description
As human populations increase along coastlines, more emphasis is being placed on environmental protection, impact assessment and geomorphic evolution in coastal regions. Coastlines the world over play an important role in the economy of a nation but their location and geology makes them vulnerable to natural disasters. South Texas is no exception. Hurricanes invariably wreak havoc in the Gulf of Mexico on a yearly basis. Various methods are emerging to aid in the modeling of shoreline processes, specifically with the use of remote sensing and GIS-based data analyses. By comparing satellite imagery over long periods of time and before and after intense storm events, we can determine how much shorelines are changing in response to gradual evolution as well as catastrophic events, in order to develop better models for coastal processes. In this study, Galveston Bay and the surrounding area were investigated through analyses of aerial imagery data for 3 different times---1996, 2008 before Hurricane Ike and 2008 after Hurricane Ike which severely modified the Texas coastline in September 2008. Coastal landforms, including barrier islands, spits, bars and dunes and urban development are mapped at the 1km scale to show the changes in coastal geomorphology as a result of the passage of time as well as the catastrophic impact of one of the most destructive hurricanes to ever impact the Texas coast in recorded history. The findings suggest that over a period of 12 years (1996--2008), catastrophic events have a more significant impact on coastal geomorphology than coastal evolution due to the gradual passage of time.

National Assessment of Shoreline Change

National Assessment of Shoreline Change PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Beach erosion
Languages : en
Pages : 72

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Understanding the Long-Term Evolution of the Coupled Natural-Human Coastal System

Understanding the Long-Term Evolution of the Coupled Natural-Human Coastal System PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309475872
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 157

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Book Description
The U.S. Gulf Coast provides a valuable setting to study deeply connected natural and human interactions and feedbacks that have led to a complex, interconnected coastal system. The physical landscape in the region has changed significantly due to broad-scale, long-term processes such as coastal subsidence and river sediment deposition as well as short-term episodic events such as hurricanes. Modifications from human activities, including building levees and canals and constructing buildings and roads, have left their own imprint on the natural landscape. This coupled natural-human coastal system and the individual aspects within it (physical, ecological, and human) are under increased pressure from accelerating environmental stressors such as sea level rise, intensifying hurricanes, and continued population increase with its accompanying coastal development. Promoting the resilience and maintaining the habitability of the Gulf Coast into the future will need improved understanding of the coupled natural-human coastal system, as well as effective sharing of this understanding in support of decision-making and policies. Understanding the Long-term Evolution of the Coupled Natural-Human Coastal System presents a research agenda meant to enable a better understanding of the multiple and interconnected factors that influence long-term processes along the Gulf Coast. This report identifies scientific and technical gaps in understanding the interactions and feedbacks between human and natural processes, defines essential components of a research and development program in response to the identified gaps, and develops priorities for critical areas of research.

Managing Coastal Erosion

Managing Coastal Erosion PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309041430
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 199

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Book Description
More and more of the nation's vast coastlines are being filled with homes and vacation resorts. The result is an increasing number of structures built on erosion-prone shoresâ€"with many of these structures facing collapse or damage. In response to mounting property losses, Congress has given the Federal Emergency Management Agency responsibility for incorporating coastal erosion into its National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This book from the National Research Council addresses the immediate question of how to develop an erosion insurance programâ€"as well as the larger issues raised by the continually changing face of our nation's shorelines. Managing Coastal Erosion explores major questions surrounding a national policy on coastal erosion: Should the federal government be in the business of protecting developers and individuals who build in erosion-prone coastal areas? How should such a program be implemented? Can it prompt more responsible management of coastal areas? The volume provides federal policymakers, state floodplain and resource managers, civil engineers, environmental groups, marine specialists, development companies, and researchers with invaluable information about the natural processes of coastal erosion and the effect of human activity on those processes. The book also details the workings of the NFIP, lessons to be learned from numerous state coastal management programs, and much more.

Beach and Vegetation-line Changes at Galveston Island, Texas

Beach and Vegetation-line Changes at Galveston Island, Texas PDF Author: Robert A. Morton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Beach erosion
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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GIS and Remote Sensing for Coastal Evolution Studies: Multi-proxy Shoreline Changes in the Ovar-Marinha Grande Area (Portugal) from 1984-2011 and 2022 Scenarios

GIS and Remote Sensing for Coastal Evolution Studies: Multi-proxy Shoreline Changes in the Ovar-Marinha Grande Area (Portugal) from 1984-2011 and 2022 Scenarios PDF Author: Luca Cenci
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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An Assessment of Future Coastal Land Loss in Galveston, Chambers, and Jefferson Counties, Texas

An Assessment of Future Coastal Land Loss in Galveston, Chambers, and Jefferson Counties, Texas PDF Author: Steven John Germiat
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Coast changes
Languages : en
Pages : 418

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Book Description
Loss of coastal land has been occurring along the Upper Texas Gulf Coast over the historical record. This loss of land will continue into the future, probably at increasing rates due to accelerated sea-level rise caused by global warming (i.e. the "greenhouse effect"). Three scenarios for shoreline retreat and land loss to the year 2050 are developed for the uppermost 200 km of the Texas Coast, between Sabine Pass and the mouth of the Trinity River. The scenarios (baseline, low-rise and high-rise) integrate best available estimates of sea-level rise in the next century with empirical relations between relative sea-level rise and shoreline movement during a baseline period (1930-1974 or 1982, depending on the availability of shoreline movement data) for each of 10 shoreline segments. Loss of coastal land results from both erosion and submergence of the coastline due to relative sea-level rise. Relative sea-level (RSL) rise, in turn, encompasses eustatic rise and land-surface subsidence. Baseline rates of RSL rise at Pier 21 on Galveston are 6.9 mm/yr (1930-1974) and 7.6 mm/yr (1930-1982). Data from nonsubsiding tidal gages along the Florida Gulf Coast are used to define a 2.2 mm/yr baseline rate of eustatic rise within the Gulf of Mexico. Land-surface subsidence accounts for the residual 4.7 and 5.4 mm/yr. Land-surface subsidence within the study area is the result of undifferentiated natural consolidation of clay-rich sediments and regional subsurface depressurization caused by production of oil and gas. Groundwater pumpage is minimal within the area and is not considered a cause of subsidence, although large-scale pumping in the metropolitan Houston area has probably caused subsidence along the eastern shore of Trinity Bay. The baseline scenario assumes a constant rate of RSL rise, resulting in a rise of 0.45-0.49 m by 2050. At 2050, RSL rises of 0.66-0.70 min the low-rise scenario and 0.88-0.92 m in the high-rise scenario are predicted by combining low- and high-rise estimates of eustatic rise developed from a synthesis of nine recently published projections with a constant baseline rate of subsidence. The multiplicative factors of approximately 1.5 for the low-rise and 2.0 for the high-rise scenario are calculated from the ratios of projected RSL rise to baseline RSL rise at 2050. These factors are integrated into the baseline relation between RSL rise and shoreline movement to estimate shoreline displacement and subsequent loss of land by 2050 in each of the 10 shoreline segments. The estimated net change of land area by 2050 for the entire study area coastline is -17.2 km2 (4248 acres) in the baseline scenario, -25.2 km2 (6224 acres) in the low-rise scenario, and -33.8 km2 (8349 acres) in the high-rise scenario. Shoreline retreat and land loss scenarios developed in this study represent conservative estimates. Recent rates of relative sea-level rise (between 1958 and the mid-1980s) at Pier 21 and at Sabine Pass exceed 11 mm/yr, 50-60% higher than the calculated long-term rates of 6.9 and 7.6 mm/yr, used as the baseline for this analysis. Therefore projected RSL rise by 2050 are conservative and may underestimate shoreline displacement and coastal land loss. These projections should be considered in the future development of and use of the Texas Coast.

Coast Erosion and the Development of Beach Profiles

Coast Erosion and the Development of Beach Profiles PDF Author: Per Bruun
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Beach erosion
Languages : en
Pages : 102

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Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States PDF Author: U.S. Global Change Research Program
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521144078
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 193

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Book Description
Summarizes the science of climate change and impacts on the United States, for the public and policymakers.

Shoreline Changes on Galveston Island (Bolivar Roads to San Luis Pass)

Shoreline Changes on Galveston Island (Bolivar Roads to San Luis Pass) PDF Author: Robert A. Morton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Coast changes
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description