Long-term consequences and management responses to coastal wetlands and lagoons impacted by Hurricane Sandy
Summary
Short Overview. Hurricane Sandy damaged vegetation in coastal forests, marshes and lagoons through increased salinity intrusion, persistent flooding, and mechanical breakage. This observationally-driven research and mapping study based on radar and optical image and ground-based datasets will document Hurricane Sandy surge persistence and impacts to the coastal resources of Delmarva and New Jersey. Surge extents created from multiple radar scenes will be transformed to represent the wetland duration-of-exposure to elevated salinities (salt burn) and continuous inundation (water logging). These same datasets will document the pre- and post-storm coastal resource types, structure, and condition and track post-storm recovery with a special [...]
Summary
Short Overview. Hurricane Sandy damaged vegetation in coastal forests, marshes and lagoons through increased salinity intrusion, persistent flooding, and mechanical breakage. This observationally-driven research and mapping study based on radar and optical image and ground-based datasets will document Hurricane Sandy surge persistence and impacts to the coastal resources of Delmarva and New Jersey. Surge extents created from multiple radar scenes will be transformed to represent the wetland duration-of-exposure to elevated salinities (salt burn) and continuous inundation (water logging). These same datasets will document the pre- and post-storm coastal resource types, structure, and condition and track post-storm recovery with a special emphasis on identifying wetlands exhibiting latent degradation and possibly requiring direct mitigation. The pre- and post-storm landcover type, condition, and canopy structure information will be combined with duration-of-exposure maps and latent resource responses determined from long-term, site-specific studies within a geographic information system (GIS). Using the GIS structure, we will develop observational-based models that relate the structural, functional, and spatial characteristics of coastal resources to their resilience or vulnerability to extreme storms and surges, and their ability to protect inland natural and built environments. In effect, we will implement or at least build the foundation for a remote sensing system that strategically monitors the resource status and trajectories and the surge duration-of-exposure response and delivers that information into an observational-based model that can anticipate the future status of the coastal resource based on projected impacts. The results of the observational-based model will be used identify areas for conservation, restoration, and mitigation and propose management strategies.
Team Responsibilities. The study is coordinated by Elijah Ramsey III. In a separate study, Amina Rangoonwala will create radar based surge extents and short-term coastal resource response maps. Beth Middleton (and Evelyn Anemaet USGS contractor) will determine latent impacts on coastal forests along a salinity gradient by assessing post-storm recovery and trajectory. Prof. Michael Kearney will produce (1) pre- and post-Sandy optical landcover type and condition maps, and (2) pre- and post-Sandy radar-optical canopy structure maps with Amina Rangoonwala. Prof. Arthur Schwarzschild and Prof. Robert Christian will conduct site-specific, long-term studies at coastal Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites for image and model calibration and validation and long-term response modeling. Dr. Truitt will identify areas for conservation, restoration, and mitigation and provide management strategies based on results of the observational-based models.
Partners. Virginia Coastal Reserve Long-term Ecological Research (VCR-LTER) and U.S. and International LTER programs, the United Nations Coastal Module of the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and its Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO), Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), NASA DEVELOP (Policelli; project in review), University of Virginia (UVA), University of Maryland (UMD) and East Carolina University (ECU), Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Schofield/Koth; project permits approved). The NASA DEVELOP project involves student interns in field experiences at the research plots (pending).
Timeline. Field work, data collection, and post analysis = 21 months; final report and products = 36 months, July 2013 – June 2015
Budget/Staffing. Total: $639,530 (includes $143,473 Indirect). Staffing: 2 USGS contractors, 3 graduate students (UMA and UMD, 1 contributed by ECU), 2 USGS scientists, Professors Kearney (UMA) and Schwarzschild (UMD) receive funds through this study, Professor Christian (ECU) and Dr. Truitt (VIMS) are funded by their respective institutions, and DEVELOP student interns and volunteers.
Products. (1) Hurricane Sandy surge extent contours and duration-of-exposure, (2) immediate to short-term damage to the coastal wetland resource, (3) pre- and post-Sandy landcover and condition maps, (4) radar-optical canopy structure maps and surface roughness for improving surge predictions, (5) biophysical calibration and validation datasets, and (6) a management strategy based on satellite remote sensing data and results of the observational-based models that will identify areas for conservation, restoration, and mitigation. Products will be transferred to interested managers, policy makers, researchers, and the public by way of Fact Sheets, Research Briefs, Project Reports, Maps, GIS databases, journal publications, and presentations. Products will be accessible through TNC’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) portal. Map projected images, polygon-vectors files (e.g., flood extents, duration-of-exposure, dieback severity) will be formatted into Google maps.
Study Goal. The study goal is to document the damage and response of coastal ecosystems, including wetland and maritime forests and wetland marshes to Hurricane Sandy. In reaching that goal, we will produce maps and remote sensing technologies for identifying those coastal resources that are most vulnerable to degradation and propose methods for resource management mitigation before irreparable loss. Our objective is to provide the information needed for development and implementation of a comprehensive plan for maintenance or progressive restoration with quantifiable metrics and timely and cost-effective monitoring techniques built upon remote sensing techniques and operational analyses.
