Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms

Hurricane Gustav

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Lidar reveals coastal change on Dauphin Island Before and after photo comparisons: Trinity Island to Grand Isle, LA; Chandeleur Islands, LA Post-storm photos: Trinity Island to Grand Isle, LA

Hurricane Gustav moved ashore east of the Isles Dernieres on September 1, 2008, making landfall near Cocodrie, LA, as a Category 2 storm. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Hurricanes and Extreme Storms Group investigated coastal change that occurred along Louisiana's sandy beaches as a result of Hurricane Gustav.

Aerial video, still photography, and laser altimetry surveys of post-storm beach conditions were collected for comparison with earlier data. The comparisons show the nature, magnitude, and spatial variability of coastal changes such as beach erosion, overwash deposition, and island breaching. These data will also be used to further refine predictive models of coastal impacts from severe storms.

Response Activities

Pre-landfall

• Initial assessment of potential coastal-change impacts (web post, complete 8/30/08)

Post-landfall (approx. 3-5 days)

• Updated assessment of potential coastal-change impacts (web post, complete 9/5/08)
• Post-storm airborne lidar topographic survey (data collection, complete 9/10/08)
• Oblique aerial photos of impacted coast (web post, complete 9/5/08)
• Pre- and post-storm photo comparisons (web post, complete 9/5/08)

Post-landfall (approx. 2 weeks)

• Initial pre- and post-storm lidar 3D imagery of topography and coastal change (web post, complete 9/15/08)

Science that Weathers the Storm: USGS Responds to Gustav
USGS

Track storm surge and floods in real-time with the Hurricane Gustav Hydrologic Impacts Map
USGS

Podcast: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms and Coastal Hazards, Assessments, and Changes
USGS Podcast

USGS Science: Before, During and After the Storm
USGS

National Hurricane Center
National Weather Service