Magnitude of Subaerial Beach Disturbance During Northeast Storms

Authors

  • Joseph E. Fucella
  • Robert Dolan

Keywords:

Shore processes, waves, storm magnitude, beach erosion, shore profile

Abstract

Analysis of simultaneous measurements of inshore processes and changes in beach profiles over a nine-month period on the Outer Banks of North Carolina shows 8 relationship between storm magnitude and the vertical and horizontal erosion of a subaerial beach. The maximum cut during any tidal cycle was 70 cm, which occurred in the middle of the profile. The majority of the erosion occurring during the first 6 hours of the storms and approximately 50 percent of the sand lost during the storms was recovered within the first 12 hours following the storms. Wave height and steepness and the pre-storm beach configuration determined the extent of the vertical erosion. There is a downward limit to vertical erosion, and once this level is reached the maximum changes become horizontal.

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Published

1996-04-22

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (1996): Journal of Coastal Research

Section

Articles

License

Authorization for personal use is granted by the Coastal Education and Research Foundation [CERF]. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright for their article is transferred to the publisher if the article is accepted for publication. Assignment of copyright is not required, however, from authors who work for organizations which do not permit such assignment, The copyright covers the exclusive rights to reprduce and distribute the article, inclduing reprints, photographic reproductions, microform, or any other reproductions of a similar nature, and translations.