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Coastal ErosionCoastal Erosion
1) What is Coastal Erosion
a) Definition
b) History of erosion
i) An ongoing process
ii) Briefly describe some examples of past erosion
c) Where does it happen
d) Is all erosion bad?
i) Intrinsic natural process
ii) Explain how a certain amount of erosion is healthy for the ecosystem
2) Causes of Coastal Erosion
a) Currents
i) Define
ii) How do they create erosion, i.e. offshore currents along the east coast tend to remove sand from the northern ends of barrier islands and deposit it at the southern ends.
iii) What causes them
iv) Why are they beneficial/necessary
b) Waves
i) Define
ii) How do they create erosion
iii) What causes them
iv) Why are they beneficial/necessary
c) Wind
i) Define
ii) How do they create erosion
iii) What causes them
iv) Why are they beneficial/necessary
d) Tides
i) Define
ii) How do they create erosion
iii) What causes them
iv) Why are they beneficial/necessary
e) Sea Level Changes
i) Define
ii) How do they create erosion
iii) What causes them
iv) Why are they beneficial/necessary
3) Storms and Erosion
a) Hurricanes
i) Explain how they cause erosion
ii) List 3 specific examples and explain how it effected the coast; i.e. Hurricane Hazel 1954
b) Northeasters
i) Explain how they cause erosion
ii) List 3 specific examples and explain how it effected the coast
c) USGS Hazard Scale
i) Impact 1
(1) Define
(2) Reference an example of an Impact 1
ii) Impact 2
(1) Define
(2) Reference an example of an Impact 2
iii) Impact 3
(1) Define
(2) Reference an example of an Impact 3
iv) Impact 4
(1) Define
(2) Reference an example of an Impact 4
4) Effects of Excessive Erosion
a) Property Loss
i) How can erosion cause this problem
ii) How common is this problem, i.e. how often has property been lost because of erosion
(1) What typically causes it
(2) Can you prevent it
b) Water Sedimentation
i) How can erosion cause this problem
ii) How common is this problem, i.e. how often has property been lost because of erosion
(1) What typically causes it
(2) Can you prevent it
c) Loss of soil
i) How can erosion cause this problem
ii) How common is this problem, i.e. how often has property been lost because of erosion
(1) What typically causes it
(2) Can you prevent it
d) Ecosystem damage
i) How can erosion cause this problem
ii) How common is this problem, i.e. how often has property been lost because of erosion
(1) What typically causes it
(2) Can you prevent it
e) Other Effects
i) How can erosion cause this problem
ii) How common is this problem, i.e. how often has property been lost because of erosion
(1) What typically causes it
(2) Can you prevent it
5) Types of Coastline
a) Barrier Islands
i) Defining Characteristics
ii) How does erosion effect these beaches
iii) Why does the type matter
iv) Name 3 such Beaches in NC and discuss the impact it's had
b) Strandplain Beaches
i) Defining Characteristics
ii) How does erosion effect these beaches
iii) Why does the type matter
iv) Name 3 such Beaches in NC and discuss the impact it's had
c) Coastal Wetlands
i) Defining Characteristics
ii) How does erosion effect these beaches
iii) Why does the type matter
iv) Name 3 such Beaches in NC and discuss the impact it's had
6) Importance of Waves, Tides, Wind and Currents
a) Waves
i) Briefly give a scientific definition
ii) Explain how they work
iii) How do they help the ecosystem
(1) Beaches
(2) Fishes
(3) Find other ways they help
b) Tides
i) Briefly give a scientific definition
ii) Explain how they work
iii) How do they help the ecosystem
(1) Beaches
(2) Fishes
(3) Find other ways they help
c) Wind
i) Briefly give a scientific definition
ii) Explain how they work
iii) How do they help the ecosystem
(1) Beaches
(2) Fishes
(3) Find other ways they help
d) Currents
i) Briefly give a scientific definition
ii) Explain how they work
iii) How do they help the ecosystem
(1) Beaches
(2) Fishes
(3) Find other ways they help
7) Coastal Defenses
a) Sea Walls
i) Uses and how they're designed to stop erosion
ii) Impact of Sea Walls
iii) Benefits of Sea Walls
b) Groynes and Jetties
i) Uses and how they're designed to stop erosion
ii) Impact of Groynes and Jetties
iii) Benefits of Sea Walls Groynes and Jetties
c) Offshore Structures: Breakwaters and Sills
i) Uses and how they're designed to stop erosion
ii) Impact of Breakwaters and Sills
iii) Benefits of Breakwaters and Sills
d) Dune Building
i) The Dune Problem
ii) Impact of Dunes
iii) Methods of protection
iv) Benefits of Dune Building
8) When Defenses Backfire
a) Groynes and Jetties
i) Name 3 different examples, i.e. two rock jetties built in Ocean City that ended up causing erosion
ii) Explain each thoroughly
(1) How they caused the problem, what steps had to be taken etc.
b) Sea Walls
i) Name 3 different examples
ii) Explain each thoroughly
(1) How they caused the problem, what steps had to be taken etc.
9) Changing Sea Levels and Static Coasts
a) Sea Levels
i) Why do Sea Levels change
ii) How do these changes effect us
iii) Problem of Changing Sea Levels
(1) List four examples of problems that changing sea levels cause
(2) Explain why they're problems
iv) What can we do
b) Static Coast
i) What is a static coast
ii) How does it effect us
iii) Problems of Static Coasts
(1) Inability to respond to sea level changes
(2) Cessation of beach and dune inetrst
(3) Cessation of sediment inputs
(4) Instability in fronting beaches
iv) What can we do
Helpful Links
Shifting Sands: http://travel.howstuffworks.com/barrier-island2.htm
Great Info (look under “field trip”): http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/cede_sealevel
Examples of defenses causing erosion: http://www.free-essays-free-essays.com/dbase/3e/gci20.shtml
Currents: http://drifters.doe.gov/currents/currents.html
Other Helpful Info:
What causes shoreline erosion?
Shoreline erosion is caused by a variety of factors. Along the oceanfront, hurricanes, northeasters and other storms cause seasonal fluctuations of the beach. As a general rule, North Carolina's beaches erode more in the stormy fall and winter months than in the calm summer months. It is not unusual for the mean high water line to move landward temporarily by 75 to 100 feet during the stormy season. Of course, when an ocean shoreline is hit directly by a hurricane, beachfront erosion can be even more dramatic. Inlets are also affected by seasonal storms and can change configuration rapidly and severely as tremendous amounts of water and sand flow through them. In severe storms, it is even possible for new inlets to form and existing inlets to close. Erosion associated with storms is often severe because large quantities of sand can be moved quickly offshore from the beach and dunes. This type of erosion is usually called “short-term” because the shoreline can return to its original profile as conditions calm.
Do North Carolina's ocean beaches experience “long-term” erosion?
Yes. Long-term erosion can be caused by a variety of factors, including rising sea levels. The ocean has risen about 6 inches during the last century, causing North Carolina's barrier islands to migrate landward. Although this process can cause erosion along the entire oceanfront, areas adjacent to inlets are often the most profoundly affected. Some “migrating inlets” are constantly moving in one direction. Others may stay in the same general location but expand and contract constantly. These inlets are often called “oscillating inlets.” In addition to its natural causes, erosion can be set in motion by human activities. For example, a jetty constructed to stabilize an inlet or a structure built to stabilize a beach can trap sand on one side but increase erosion on the other. Such erosion will continue until the structure is removed or the beach adjusts.
What is the typical erosion rate of a North Carolina shoreline?
Studies by the N.C. Division of Coastal Management show an average long-term erosion rate of 2 to 3 feet annually for the entire coast over the last 50 years. However, the annual erosion rate is more than 20 feet for some shoreline areas, while others have been relatively stable. Ocean shorelines near inlets and inlet shorelines usually experience the greater fluctuations. Oceanfront property is also subject to seasonal storm-related fluctuations that can result in short-term erosion of between 75 and 100 feet. Although most of this erosion is temporary, some land area lost to storms may not return. [For information on erosion rates, contact the Division of Coastal Management or the local building official in the jurisdiction where you plan to purchase or build. There are also a few private companies that analyze shoreline hazards for a fee.]
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