Shoreline Evolution and Coastal Resiliency at Two Military Installations: Investigating the Potential for and Impacts of Loss of Protecting Barriers
Abstract
This project evaluates the impacts of sea-level rise (SLR), in conjunction with storms, on the barrier islands fronting Eglin Air Force Base (EAFB), Florida and at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (CL), North Carolina, using prescribed SLR scenarios. Both installations face open oceans and include coastal barriers that dynamically respond to rising seas and currently protect significant backbarrier infrastructure. However, the geologic history, geometry and environmental setting of each system are different; in particular, the extent of back-barrier lagoon as well as the wave and storm exposure varies between the two sites. Coastal barriers (barrier islands and spits) act as a buffer, protecting estuarine ecosystems and the upland from direct assault by the ocean, particularly during large storms. Under the conditions of moderate SLR experienced over the last several millennia, barriers formed and migrated landward through overwash processes, allowing barriers to maintain themselves. However, the dramatically increased rates of projected SLR significantly exceed those seen in the last 6,000 years, raising a concern that barriers may be unable to survive intact. The loss of the protective barrier beach would leave backbarrier areas exposed to the open ocean and to more frequent and severe storminduced flooding. Barriers provide protection to a number of U.S. military installations, including the two we focus on in this study. Key questions addressed in our study are: 1) How will protective barriers respond to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 m of SLR over the coming century? For these SLR scenarios, what is the potential that barriers will no longer be able to keep up with sea level and will drown completely? How do the constraints of local geographic and geologic settings affect the potential for drowning? 2) How do storms, and variability in storm activity, work in concert with SLR to exacerbate barrier loss or impact barrier morphology? Tech
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA606171
Entities
People
- Andrew Ashton
- Jeffrey Donnelly
- Kwok F. Cheung
- Rob. L. Evans
- Volker Roeber
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution