We propose to collect detailed hydrodynamic measurements in a cross-shore array spanning the nearshore and beach/dune, as well as topo-bathy maps, throughout the storm and recovery period(s) during hurricane season. Observations from this site will provide insight into cross-shore storm processes and impacts, including wave transformation and shoreline water levels, rapid changes in coastal elevations, on/offshore sediment exchanges, and resulting habitat changes. These detailed measurements will provide a more complete understanding of storm impacts and recovery on natural beach/dune systems, which will allow us to validate and improve forecasts of water levels, coastal change, and habitat.
Location
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Hatteras Island, North Carolina, United States, Atlantic Ocean
Summary
The USGS collected detailed hydrodynamic measurements in a cross-shore array spanning the nearshore and beach/dune, as well as topo-bathy maps, throughout the storm and recovery period(s) during hurricane season. Observations from this site provided insight into cross-shore storm processes and impacts, including wave transformation and shoreline water levels, rapid changes in coastal elevations, on/offshore sediment exchanges, and resulting habitat changes. These detailed measurements provided a more complete understanding of storm impacts and recovery on natural beach/dune systems, which will allow us to validate and improve forecasts of water levels, coastal change, and habitat. During the field campign spanning 9/1/21- 10/31/21. The USGS installed two Coast Cams in stereo that were used to create 3D images of the beach every hour and track changes in water level at the study site. The USGS Coastal and Estuarine Dynamics Group also deployed a Nanopod at Pea Island DUNEX experiment site to collect oceanographic information. The USGS also used an autonomous surf vehicle, built by Peter Traykovski of WHOI, to map the bathymetry of the Pea Island DUNEX Experiment Site.
Info derived
Waves, currents, pressure, water level, meteorology, sediment grain size.
Comments
Time series moorings will be deployed on jetted/driven pipe both in the surf zone and on the beach.
Poles 1-4 were installed in a transect on the beach perpendicular to the seashore, and an RBR pressure sensor was buried at the base of each one. The poles were spaced approximately 10 m apart.
2021-09-12
2021-09-12
Poles 5-7 were installed on the beach continuing the transect, and an RBR pressure sensor was buried at the base of each one. Horizontal and vertical positioning measurements of the beach poles were made with an SP80 RTK system. The data were exported from the SP80 rover with xyz variances in the horizontal datum NAD83(2011) to produce latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid heights, and then UTM18N and NAVD88 using GEOID 18 were used to produce UTM coordinates and orthometric heights.
2021-09-14
2021-09-14
Four pipes were jetted into the surfzone by divers in a transect perpendicular to the seashore at approximately 5, 30, 100, and 250 m from the seashore. They were assigned moorings 1140 (upper beach), 1139 (lower beach), 1138 (trough), and 1137 (outer bar), respectively. A Nortek Aquadopp and Nortek Vector were mounted to moorings 1140 and 1139. However, the weld on the mounting bracket for the Vector cracked and it had to be removed. A Nortek Signature, Nortek Vector, and EchoLogger Altimeter were mounted to moorings 1138 and 1137. Collected 8 sediment samples via diver at sites of jetted pipes. Horizontal and vertical positioning measurements of the jetted pipes were made with an SP80 RTK system. The data were exported from the SP80 rover with xyz variances in the horizontal datum NAD83(2011) to produce latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid heights, and then UTM18N and NAVD88 using GEOID 18 were used to produce UTM coordinates and orthometric heights.
2021-09-15
2021-09-15
The Nortek Vector was re-installed on mooring 1140 after repairing the broken weld. Beach Pole 0 was added to the beach pole transect and installed nearest to the water. The pressure sensor from Pole 2 was moved to Pole 0 and buried at the base.
2021-09-16
2021-09-16
The pressure sensor from Pole 4 was moved to Pole 2. Collected 20 sediment samples via scoop at beach pole sites.
2021-09-18
2021-09-18
The lower beach jetted pipe (mooring 1139) came loose and had to be removed. All of its instruments were lost at sea. The instruments on mooring 1140 were also lost at sea, however, the jetted pipe remained intact.
2021-09-20
2021-09-20
The pressure sensor from Pole 3 was moved to mooring 1140 upper beach jetted pipe.
2021-09-23
2021-09-23
RBR pressure sensors were buried at the base of Poles 3 and 4.
2021-09-28
2021-09-28
The Vectors and Altimeters were removed from jetted pipes 1136 and 1137.
2021-10-06
2021-10-06
Jetted pipe mooring 1140 and its RBR pressure sensor were removed from the surfzone.
2021-10-11
2021-10-11
Collected 4 sediment samples at beach poles.
2021-10-13
2021-10-13
The pressure sensor buried at Pole 0 became exposed due to erosion. The sensor was reburied.
2021-10-21
2021-10-21
Collected 10 sediment samples via diver at sites of jetted pipes. The surfzone jetted pipes were recovered by divers, the Signatures were removed, and the data were downloaded. The pressure sensor was removed from beach pole 0, and the data were downloaded.
2021-10-22
2021-10-22
The pressure sensors were removed from beach poles 1 and 7, and the data were downloaded.
2021-10-24
2021-10-24
All remaining beach pole pressure sensors were removed, and the data were downloaded.
2021-10-26
2021-10-26
Collected 11 sediment samples via scoop at beach pole sites
Grain-size analysis data of sediment samples from the beach and nearshore environments at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge DUNEX site, North Carolina in 2021. (version 2, supersedes version 1)
