Measurement of Beach Surface Moisture Using Surface Brightness

Darke, Ian B.; Davidson‐Arnott, Robin; Ollerhead, Jeff

doi:10.2112/07-0905.1

Cited by 39 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Whilst soil moisture probeshave proven to be very useful in elucidating the variability of surface moisture over the complete intertidal and back beach area (Oblinger and Anthony, 2008; Edwards and Namikas, 2009; Anthony et al ., 2009; Namikas et al ., 2010), their volumetric measurement technique means that they struggle to take account of the smaller‐scale moisture variations where sharp, near‐surface gradients in moisture content exist. They are therefore not ideal for determining moisture properties of a thin veneer of surface particles (Darke et al ., 2009), and it is this surface moisture content which sediment entrainment and transport is most sensitive to. Further, it is specifically the drier upper region on beaches where surface moisture is typically less than 5% (gravimetrically) that the biggest detection difficulties are realized.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aeolian sand strip mobility and protodune development on a drying beach: examining surface moisture and surface roughness patterns measured by terrestrial laser scanning

Nield

Wiggs

Squirrell

2010

Earth Surf Processes Landf

118

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Ephemeral aeolian sand strips are commonplace on beaches. Their formation during high energy sand transport events often precedes the development of protodunes and their dynamics present interesting feedback mechanisms with surface moisture patterns. However, due to their temporary nature, little is known of their formation, mobility or the specifics of their interaction with beach surface characteristics. Similarly surface moisture has an important influence on sediment availability and transport in aeolian beach systems, yet it is difficult to quantify accurately due to its inherent variability over both short spatial and temporal scales. Whilst soil moisture probes and remote sensing imagery techniques can quantify large changes well, their resolution over mainly dry sand, close to the aeolian transport threshold is not ideal, particularly where moisture gradients close to the surface are large. In this study we employed a terrestrial laser scanner to monitor beach surface moisture variability during a three and a half hour period after a rain event and investigated relationships between bedform development, surface roughness and surface moisture. Our results demonstrate that as the beach surface dries, sand transport increases, with sediment erosion occurring at the wet/dry surface boundary, and deposition further downwind. This dynamic structure, dependent upon changing surface moisture characteristics, results in the formation of a rippled sand strip and ultimately a protodune. Our findings highlight dynamic mobility relationships and confirm the need to consider transient bedforms and surface moisture across a variety of scales when measuring aeolian transport in beach settings. The terrestrial laser scanner provides a suitable apparatus with which to accomplish this.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently remote sensing of surface brightness has been undertaken using video imagery (McKenna Neuman and Langston, 2006; Darke and Neuman, 2008; Darke et al ., 2009). Whilst this enables surface moisture inference at a high spatial resolution and is particularly useful for long‐term, large‐scale monitoring (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aeolian sand strip mobility and protodune development on a drying beach: examining surface moisture and surface roughness patterns measured by terrestrial laser scanning

Nield

Wiggs

Squirrell

2010

Earth Surf Processes Landf

118

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“…Alternatively, a wheeled vehicle designed to register altitude variations along a beach transect can be utilised. Also remote sensing techniques, such as X-band radar, airborne laser terrain mapping (ALTM) and light detection and ranging (LIDAR), can be alternatively employed (e.g., [24]- [26]). …”

Section: Beach Profile Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-Term Assessment of Retreating vs. Advancing Microtidal Beaches Based on the Backshore/Foreshore Length Ratio: Examples from the Basilicata Coasts (Southern Italy)

Longhitano¹

2015

OJMS

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A straightforward conceptual method is proposed to quantitatively assess the seasonal-scale tendency of retreatment or advancement on microtidal beaches by using the backshore/foreshore length ratio. This method is based on measuring the cross-shore profile of a beach when it passes through the "transitional state" that separates the high-from the low-energy season, period during which the morphological characteristics of the beach tend to its equilibrium profile. In order to obtain real measurements of backshore (B) and foreshore (F), the definition of the limits bounding these two important components in subaerial beaches is reviewed and discussed. The approach based on the measurement of the B/F length ratio assumes that foreshore and backshore have equivalent lengths in beaches that approximate to their state of morphodynamic equilibrium (B/F ~ 1). A backshore length exceeding the foreshore length is indicative of a state of beach recession, with a B/F length ratio > 1. When the foreshore length is greater than the backshore length, the shoreline is advancing or, alternatively, it is developing in a state of morphological confinement, i.e. due to the presence of a sea cliff, with a B/F < 1. This practical method is then tested against 36 sand and gravel microtidal beach profiles measured along the coasts of Basilicata, in southern Italy. The various "beach states" are summarised into seven classes (I-VII), each identified from specific value intervals of the B/F length ratio.

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“…Much of this required information has been extracted from data gathered by airborne multispectral and hyperspectral imagers and microwave radiometers (Deronde et al, 2006;Rainey et al, 2003). Handheld spectroradiometers and video cameras have been used to measure beach soil moisture and to study the evolution of nourished beaches (Darke, Davidson-Arnott, and Ollerhead, 2009;Mahfouf, 1991;Pearre and Puleo, 2009). Beach soil moisture measurements have also been performed by analyzing the land-reflected bistatic radar signals from Global Positioning Satellites (Li, Reboul, and Gardel, 2008).…”

Section: Airborne Remote Sensing Of Soil Moisturementioning

confidence: 99%

Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture: An Overview in Relation to Coastal Soils

2014

Journal of Coastal Research

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Measurement of Beach Surface Moisture Using Surface Brightness

Cited by 39 publications

References 15 publications

Aeolian sand strip mobility and protodune development on a drying beach: examining surface moisture and surface roughness patterns measured by terrestrial laser scanning

Aeolian sand strip mobility and protodune development on a drying beach: examining surface moisture and surface roughness patterns measured by terrestrial laser scanning

Short-Term Assessment of Retreating vs. Advancing Microtidal Beaches Based on the Backshore/Foreshore Length Ratio: Examples from the Basilicata Coasts (Southern Italy)

Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture: An Overview in Relation to Coastal Soils

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