Coastal Shores Monitoring

NPS / Katy Perrault

 

Coastal Geomorphology

As the first line of defense against increasingly stronger storms, wind, flooding, and rising sea levels, our coastal shorelines take a beating while offering us a lot of protection. Because of both their role as buffers and as the locations of buildings and infrastructure, it's important to understand the past, present, and future of our coastal shorelines. Park scientists study coastal geomorphology - the morphological (form and structure) development and evolution of the coast - to provide information about shorelines. A rigorous system of protocols informed by scientific principles and relation to issues of importance to park management guides their study.

The monitoring for coastal geomorphology is split into two parts, Ocean Shoreline Position (Part I) and Coastal Topography (Part II). Those two parts allow us to understand coastal shorelines on a 1-Dimensional and 2-Dimensional level, respectively. A third, Coastal Landform Elevation Models (Part III), is in development that would allow for understanding of coastal geomorphology on a 3-Dimensional level using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging – a remote sensing technology that uses lasers to measure distances).

Cape Cod National Seashore is part of a network of parks with similar ecosystem qualities and regional location where coastal geomorphology is monitored to gain a broader understanding. Other parks in the Northeast Coastal Barrier Network, part of the larger Inventory and Monitoring Division of the National Park Service, include Assateague Island National Seashore, Fire Island National Seashore, Gateway National Recreation Area, George Washington Birthplace National Monument, and Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. You can learn more about region-wide coastal monitoring and find information from related parks on the Northeast Coastal Barrier Network's webpage.

Click on the dropdowns below to see documents and data associated with this monitoring program at Cape Cod National Seashore.

 

Ocean Shoreline Position - Part I

 

A park scientist collects data on ocean shoreline position using a self-created tool that allows for data collection on an ATV.

NPS Image / Scott Rasmussen

The first part of Coastal Geomorphology monitoring, Ocean Shoreline Position, allows scientists to understand and track changes in coastal shorelines on a 1-Dimensional level. Imagine if the outline of Cape Cod were to be traced at measured intervals to understand where it may be growing or receding. That's basically what park and network scientists are doing! By tracking the location of the shoreline, scientists are able to determine erosional hotspots and areas of accretion (growth).

How this is monitored:

1. Configure GPS receiver to record a coordinate every second and mount receiver to a four-wheel all terrain vehicle (ATV)
2. Drive ATV at a relatively constant speed along the park’s entire ocean shoreline following the wet/dry line which sometimes can contain wrack (debris)
3. Repeat twice a year in spring and fall
4. Analyze collected coordinates for seasonal and annual trends in shoreline position over time

Ocean shoreline position is important to understand because the rate and magnitude of shoreline change can have major effects for parks and their natural and cultural resources as well as infrastructure. Indications of sea-level rise and widespread erosion globally mean that it's important to monitor and understand any changes, which our scientists help us to do!

 

Monitoring Documents (Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures)
Ocean Shoreline Position

Here you can find the documents that guide our monitoring of Ocean Shoreline Position, including the protocol and standard operating procedures (SOP's).

Source: NPS DataStore Collection 9707. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

 

Data
Ocean Shoreline Position

Here you can find the data package for Ocean Shoreline Position. 

Source: NPS DataStore Collection 9675. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

 

Coastal Topography - Part II

 

A park scientist collects data on coastal topography.

NPS Image / Scott Rasmussen

The second part of Coastal Geomorphology monitoring, Coastal Topography, allows scientists to understand and track changes in coastal shorelines on a 2-Dimensional level. Bluffs and dunes play a significant role in storm buffering, which keeps not only people and natural resources but also infrastructure safe. Understanding changes to coastal landforms is important to understand future storm impacts, especially as storms strengthen, and potential need to move infrastructure.

How we monitor:

1. Configure GPS receiver to record elevation at every inflection point and at major features along a transect of a coastal area. Set up satellite rover device to receive location data
2. Mount GPS receiver and rover to a mono-pod
3. Move with the mono-pod from one end of the transect to the other
4. Repeat surveying twice every year in spring and fall
5. Download data and generate a 2D cross-section. Analyze data for long-term topographic changes

Studying coastal topography allows park scientists to determine where coastal landforms are losing or gaining mass on a long timescale by looking at elevation points on different transects and comparing them to previous data. Cape Cod National Seashore monitors transcets that intersect with points of interest for park management, such as parking lots and buildings, allowing park staff to stay informed about the status of infrastructure.

Monitoring of this protocol was first established at Cape Cod National Seashore in 2024. Data will be added in the future when the data package is fully prepared.

 

Monitoring Documents (Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures)
Coastal Topography

Here you can find the protocols, standard operating procedures (SOP's) and information on the protocol development used for coastal topography monitoring.

Source: NPS DataStore Collection 9676. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

 

Coastal Shorelines Monitoring Visualizations

 

Left image
Here you can see an example of what monitoring data can tell us (left) and where we collect it (right) for these two protocols.
Credit: NPS / Scott Rasmussen

Right image
Here you can see how coastal topography data can show us how the bluff has changed since 1998.
Credit: NPS / Scott Rasmussen

Slide to see some of the products of coastal shoreline monitoring!

 

Written by Science Communication Scientist-in-Parks Katy Perrault