National Assessment of Storm-Induced Coastal Change Hazards

The USGS National Assessment of Storm-Induced Coastal Change Hazards group is responding to Hurricane Joaquin.

Current response activities include:

• Forecasting the probability of coastal change by comparing modeled elevations of storm-induced water levels to known elevations of coastal topography. Access interactive maps and data including probability of coastal change, water levels, and elevations of dune crest and toe through the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Portal.
• Measuring post-storm morphology using oblique aerial photography to determine the state of the beach after storm impact. Oblique aerial photography was flown on October 7, 8, and 9 from the South Carolina/North Carolina border to Montauk Point, New York. Photos can be viewed by accessing the map viewer.
• Help the USGS National Assessment of Storm-Induced Coastal Change Hazards group classify coastal change impacts from Hurricane Joaquin in iCoast. Citizen scientists are needed to help identify changes to the coast by comparing aerial photographs taken before and after Hurricane Joaquin. Crowdsourced data from iCoast will help USGS improve predictive models of coastal change and educate the public about the vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme storms.
• Measuring post-storm morphology using airborne lidar. A lidar survey was conducted on November 28, 2015 over the entire extent of Assateague Island. These data will be used to evaluate the accuracy of coastal change hazard assessments and to update morphologic parameters required in future assessments.

Go to the Portal

Open iCoast

See Photos