Hurricane Degradation—Barrier Development Cycles, Northeastern Gulf of Mexico: Landform Evolution and Island Chain History

Otvos, Ervin G.; Carter, Gregory A.

doi:10.2112/06-0820.1

Cited by 78 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In December of 2015, the island had a subaerial area of about 13.6 km 2 [31]. The barrier island comprises a portion of a 105-km long Mississippi-Alabama wave-dominated barrier island chain that is backed by the shallow (<4-m depth) Mississippi Sound [32]. A tide gauge, first established in 1966 and operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (station ID: 8735180), is located on the eastern side of the island (Figure 2).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Lidar Elevation Uncertainty on Mapping Intertidal Habitats on Barrier Islands

et al. 2017

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While airborne lidar data have revolutionized the spatial resolution that elevations can be realized, data limitations are often magnified in coastal settings. Researchers have found that airborne lidar can have a vertical error as high as 60 cm in densely vegetated intertidal areas. The uncertainty of digital elevation models is often left unaddressed; however, in low-relief environments, such as barrier islands, centimeter differences in elevation can affect exposure to physically demanding abiotic conditions, which greatly influence ecosystem structure and function. In this study, we used airborne lidar elevation data, in situ elevation observations, lidar metadata, and tide gauge information to delineate low-lying lands and the intertidal wetlands on Dauphin Island, a barrier island along the coast of Alabama, USA. We compared three different elevation error treatments, which included leaving error untreated and treatments that used Monte Carlo simulations to incorporate elevation vertical uncertainty using general information from lidar metadata and site-specific Real-Time Kinematic Global Position System data, respectively. To aid researchers in instances where limited information is available for error propagation, we conducted a sensitivity test to assess the effect of minor changes to error and bias. Treatment of error with site-specific observations produced the fewest omission errors, although the treatment using the lidar metadata had the most well-balanced results. The percent coverage of intertidal wetlands was increased by up to 80% when treating the vertical error of the digital elevation models. Based on the results from the sensitivity analysis, it could be reasonable to use error and positive bias values from literature for similar environments, conditions, and lidar acquisition characteristics in the event that collection of site-specific data is not feasible and information in the lidar metadata is insufficient. The methodology presented in this study should increase efficiency and enhance results for habitat mapping and analyses in dynamic, low-relief coastal environments.

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Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Lidar Elevation Uncertainty on Mapping Intertidal Habitats on Barrier Islands

et al. 2017

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“…The island chain is backed by the shallow (less than 4 meters [m] deep) Mississippi Sound (Otvos and Carter, 2008). Dauphin Island is the only barrier island located offshore of coastal Alabama.…”

Section: Dauphin Islandmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2). Dauphin Island was formed about 3,500 to 5,000 years ago when the rising sea levels during the mid-to late Holocene Epoch led to the engulfment of a Pleistocene beach ridge (that is, a higher ridge on the eastern side of Dauphin Island) (Otvos and Carter, 2008). Barrier islands in the Mississippi Sound have experienced a strong westward movement due to longshore drift and westward littoral transport (Otvos, 1970;Morton, 2008).…”

Section: Dauphin Islandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barrier island habitat map and vegetation survey—Dauphin Island, Alabama, 2015

Enwright¹,

Borchert²,

Day³

et al. 2017

Open-File Report

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For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov.Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. AbstractBarrier islands are dynamic environments due to their position at the land-sea interface. Storms, waves, tides, currents, and relative sea-level rise are powerful forces that shape barrier island geomorphology and habitats (for example, beach, dune, marsh, and forest). Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Deep Water Horizon oil spill in 2010 are two major events that have affected habitats and natural resources on Dauphin Island, Alabama. The latter event prompted a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the State of Alabama funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to investigate viable, sustainable restoration options that protect and restore the natural resources of Dauphin Island, Alabama.In order to understand the feasibility and sustainability of various restoration scenarios, it is important to understand current conditions on Dauphin Island. To further this understanding, a detailed 19-class habitat map for Dauphin Island was produced from 1-foot aerial infrared photography collected on December 4, 2015, and lidar data collected in January 2015. We also conducted a ground survey of habitat types, vegetation community structure, and elevations in November and December 2015. These products provide baseline data regarding the ecological and general geomorphological attributes of the area, which can be compared with observations from other dates for tracking changes over time.

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“…With access to fresh water, bare sand is colonized by pioneering species, leading to foredune growth and gradual transitions to shrubland and maritime forest [3,8,9]. On barrier islands in the northern Gulf of Mexico, the extent of total land area and drier habitat types, which form at higher elevations, such as shrubland and woodland, is declining relative to lower-elevation, wetter habitat types, such as marsh, at a time scale of a few decades [3,10,11]. This appears to be a combined effect of relative sea level rise and navigational shipping channels impeding natural littoral drift, ultimately affecting sediment replenishment along these islands [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Aerial RGB Imagery and LIDAR in Comparing Ecological Habitats and Geomorphic Features on a Natural versus Man-Made Barrier Island

2016

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Abstract:The Mississippi (MS) barrier island chain along the northern Gulf of Mexico coastline is subject to rapid changes in habitat, geomorphology and elevation by natural and anthropogenic disturbances. The purpose of this study was to compare habitat type coverage with respective elevation, geomorphic features and short-term change between the naturally-formed East Ship Island and the man-made Sand Island. Ground surveys, multi-year remotely-sensed data, habitat classifications and digital elevation models were used to quantify short-term habitat and geomorphic change, as well as to examine the relationships between habitat types and micro-elevation. Habitat types and species composition were the same on both islands with the exception of the algal flat existing on the lower elevated spits of East Ship. Both islands displayed common patterns of vegetation succession and ranges of existence in elevation. Additionally, both islands showed similar geomorphic features, such as fore and back dunes and ponds. Storm impacts had the most profound effects on vegetation and geomorphic features throughout the study period. Although vastly different in age, these two islands show remarkable commonalities among the traits investigated. In comparison to East Ship, Sand Island exhibits key characteristics of a natural barrier island in terms of its vegetated habitats, geomorphic features and response to storm impacts, although it was established anthropogenically only decades ago.

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Hurricane Degradation—Barrier Development Cycles, Northeastern Gulf of Mexico: Landform Evolution and Island Chain History

Cited by 78 publications

References 7 publications

The Impact of Lidar Elevation Uncertainty on Mapping Intertidal Habitats on Barrier Islands

The Impact of Lidar Elevation Uncertainty on Mapping Intertidal Habitats on Barrier Islands

Barrier island habitat map and vegetation survey—Dauphin Island, Alabama, 2015

The Use of Aerial RGB Imagery and LIDAR in Comparing Ecological Habitats and Geomorphic Features on a Natural versus Man-Made Barrier Island

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