Other Homework Help

Part 1: Texas Coastline -Hurricane Ike (2008) Aftermath
Think about the beach erosional features we have discussed in Instructor’s Notes and Presentations, as you look at the USGS images below.

Below look at Pre and Post-Storm photo For Hurricane Ike comparisons for Crystal Beach on Bolivar, Peninsula located on the right side (east side) of the hurricane track. (The top of the map and images is north.)

Pre and Post-Storm photo For Hurricane Ike comparisons for Crystal Beach on Bolivar, Peninsula

1) Based on your assessment of this images, approximately what percentage of the coastal community would you estimated was destroyed during the storm?

Pre- and Post-Storm Photo Comparisons of Spanish Grant Beach Galveston Island

Galveston Island – Spanish Grant pre-storm and post-storm oblique aerial photographs.

The LIDAR elevation images for these areas are no longer available from the USGS.

Galveston (a barrier island) is a bit older (2000-1500 yrs) and Bolivar Peninsula (a spit) is younger (800 yrs). Galveston Island’s elevations are around 4 m (15 feet) above sea level, whereas the younger Bolivar spit is 1-2m (3-7 feet).

Look at image from Spanish Grant pre-storm and post-storm oblique aerial photographs.
5) base on the data provided which of these two areas (Bolivar Peninsula or Galveston Island) do you think has the most damage?

6) What are two reasons why one area had more damage than the other? (be sure to look at the storm track and consider the difference between the “clean and dirty sides” of a hurricane.)

Now, look more closely at the image from Spanish Grant on Galveston Island.

The current Open Beaches legislation states that public access (easement) to the beach includes the area between the mean sea level and the stable line of vegetation (LOV). This area should be free of any structure that would impede public access.

7) After the storm, estimate how many houses would be “impeding” public access?

8) Approximately what percent of the Jamaica Beach community is now on the public access portion of the beach as defined by the Open Beaches legislation described above?

Even before Hurricane Ike, 116 coastal homes were on a moratorium list from 2004-2006 beach erosion. The owners are offered $50,000 to remove their homes from the beach.

Part 2: LIDAR Images from Hurricane Sandy October 2012

Now let’s look at a more recent storm on a more developed coastline. Before and After LIDAR image comparisons:

http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/sandy/lidar/…

Before and after air-photo comparisons

http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/sandy/photo-…

Choose one location along the coast of New Jersey (i.e., chose 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7) 9) Which site did you choose?

10) Referring to the “Elevation Difference Map”, what was the maximum change in beach elevation for this beach after the storm?

11) Referring to the correlating air photos, what forms of coastal armament (groins, jetties, seawalls, riprap, etc.) are present at this location?

12) Do you think these structures were successful in protecting the beach and homes?

More links: (optional)

Hurricane Intensity Scale Animations (Saffir-Simpson Scale- damage) (Beaufort Scale- wind velocity)