An application of LIDAR to examine erosion in the southern Monterey Bay during the 1997-98 El Nino

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Authors
Egley, Lora A.
Subjects
Erosion
LIDAR
Sedminent transport
El Nino
Southern Monterey Bay
Advisors
Thornton, Edward B.
Parsons, Arthur R.
Date of Issue
2002-03
Date
March 2002
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) was used in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to quantify coastal changes to beaches and dunes in the Southern Monterey Bay region and to qualitatively assess the erosional impact of large storms on coastal dune areas. LIDAR provides a rapid and accurate survey technique to measure topographic elevation. A LIDAR survey was performed in October 1997 and then a second survey in April 1998 to measure the erosion occurring during the 1997-1998 El Nino winter storm. Maximum dune erosion occurred in the vicinity of Fort Ord (13 m) and Marina (15 m), along with significant dune recession in Monterey and Sand City. Beach erosion was prevalent from Moss Landing to Monterey showing the seasonal beach loss. There was a large spatial variability all along the shoreline, with many numerous erosional "hot spots". LIDAR data provide a high-quality representation of the episodic erosion process in Southern Monterey Bay, and also offers useful environmental information to the warfighter in terms of detailed beach or landing zone characterizations.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xvi, 55 p. : ill.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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