The land area of Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock, MA was 2 in 2018.
Land Area
Water Area
Land area is a measurement providing the size, in square miles, of the land portions of geographic entities for which the Census Bureau tabulates and disseminates data. Area is calculated from the specific boundary recorded for each entity in the Census Bureau's geographic database. Land area is based on current information in the TIGER® data base, calculated for use with Census 2010.
Water Area figures include inland, coastal, Great Lakes, and territorial sea water. Inland water consists of any lake, reservoir, pond, or similar body of water that is recorded in the Census Bureau's geographic database. It also includes any river, creek, canal, stream, or similar feature that is recorded in that database as a two- dimensional feature (rather than as a single line). The portions of the oceans and related large embayments (such as Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound), the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea that belong to the United States and its territories are classified as coastal and territorial waters; the Great Lakes are treated as a separate water entity. Rivers and bays that empty into these bodies of water are treated as inland water from the point beyond which they are narrower than 1 nautical mile across. Identification of land and inland, coastal, territorial, and Great Lakes waters is for data presentation purposes only and does not necessarily reflect their legal definitions.
Above charts are based on data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey | ODN Dataset | API -
Geographic and Area Datasets Involving Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock, MA
- API
SLR Coastal Erosion - 1.1 Ft. Scenario
highways.hidot.hawaii.gov | Last Updated 2023-03-24T01:38:18.000ZUPDATED - Nov. 2020. Studies of historical shoreline change using aerial photographs and survey maps show that 70% of beaches on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui are eroding (receding landward) (Fletcher et al. 2012). Beaches exist in a delicate balance between existing water levels, wave energy, and sand supply. Coastal erosion modeling was conducted for sandy shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui by the University of Hawaii Coastal Geology Group. The methods are described in Anderson et al. (2015) and combine historical shoreline change data with a model of beach profile response to sea level rise from Davidson-Arnott (2005) in order to estimate probabilities of future exposure to erosion at transects (shore-perpendicular measurement locations) spaced approximately 20 meters apart along the shoreline. The model accounts for localized alongshore variability in shoreline change by incorporating trends from the historical erosion mapping studies. Historical data used to model coastal erosion consisted of: (1) historical shoreline positions and erosion rates measured from high-resolution (0.5 meters) ortho-rectified aerial photographs and NOAA topographic charts dating back to the early 1900s (Fletcher et al. 2012, Romine et al. 2013), and (2) beach profile field survey data (Gibbs et al. 2001, Fletcher et al. 2012). The vegetation line was identified in the most recent aerial photography dating from 2006 to 2008. The output of the modeling is the estimated exposure zone to future erosion hazards. Based on the model and IPCC AR5 RCP8.5 sea level rise scenario, there is an 80% probability that land impacted by erosion would be confined within the exposure zone at that particular time. The exposure zones extend landward from the current-day shoreline (vegetation line) up to the 80% cumulative probability contour from sea level rise at 0.5, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2 feet, which incorporates the uncertainty (upper and lower bounds) of the IPCC RCP8.5 sea level rise projection. This particular layer depicts coastal erosion using the 1.1-ft (0.3224-m) sea level rise scenario. While the RCP8.5 predicts that this scenario would be reached by the year 2050, questions remain around the exact timing of sea level rise and recent observations and projections suggest a sooner arrival. Assumptions and Limitations: Historical shoreline change data and beach profiles needed to model coastal erosion are available only for sandy shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Exposure was not modeled for less-erodible rocky coasts and bluffs, though the latter can be prone to sudden failure in some areas. In addition, modeling did not account for: (1) existing seawalls or other coastal armoring in the backshore; (2) increasing wave energy across the fringing reef with sea level rise; (3) possible changes in reef accretion and nearshore sediment processes with sea level rise; and (4) possible changes to sediment supply from future shoreline development and engineering, such as construction or removal of coastal armoring or other coastal engineering. Data compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) for the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Viewer hosted at https://pacioos.org/shoreline/slr-hawaii/. Users of these data should cite the following publication: Anderson, T.R., Fletcher, C.H., Barbee, M.M., Frazer, L.N., and B.M. Romine (2015). Doubling of Coastal Erosion Under Rising Sea Level by Mid-Century in Hawaii, Natural Hazards, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1698-6. For further information, please see the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report: https://climateadaptation.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SLR-Report_Dec2017.pdf
- API
SLR Coastal Erosion - 3.2 Ft. Scenario
highways.hidot.hawaii.gov | Last Updated 2023-03-24T01:37:41.000ZUPDATED - Nov. 2020. Studies of historical shoreline change using aerial photographs and survey maps show that 70% of beaches on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui are eroding (receding landward) (Fletcher et al. 2012). Beaches exist in a delicate balance between existing water levels, wave energy, and sand supply. Coastal erosion modeling was conducted for sandy shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui by the University of Hawaii Coastal Geology Group. The methods are described in Anderson et al. (2015) and combine historical shoreline change data with a model of beach profile response to sea level rise from Davidson-Arnott (2005) in order to estimate probabilities of future exposure to erosion at transects (shore-perpendicular measurement locations) spaced approximately 20 meters apart along the shoreline. The model accounts for localized alongshore variability in shoreline change by incorporating trends from the historical erosion mapping studies. Historical data used to model coastal erosion consisted of: (1) historical shoreline positions and erosion rates measured from high-resolution (0.5 meters) ortho-rectified aerial photographs and NOAA topographic charts dating back to the early 1900s (Fletcher et al. 2012, Romine et al. 2013), and (2) beach profile field survey data (Gibbs et al. 2001, Fletcher et al. 2012). The vegetation line was identified in the most recent aerial photography dating from 2006 to 2008. The output of the modeling is the estimated exposure zone to future erosion hazards. Based on the model and IPCC AR5 RCP8.5 sea level rise scenario, there is an 80% probability that land impacted by erosion would be confined within the exposure zone at that particular time. The exposure zones extend landward from the current-day shoreline (vegetation line) up to the 80% cumulative probability contour from sea level rise at 0.5, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2 feet, which incorporates the uncertainty (upper and lower bounds) of the IPCC RCP8.5 sea level rise projection. This particular layer depicts coastal erosion using the 3.2-ft (0.9767-m) sea level rise scenario. While the RCP8.5 predicts that this scenario would be reached by the year 2100, questions remain around the exact timing of sea level rise and recent observations and projections suggest a sooner arrival. Assumptions and Limitations: Historical shoreline change data and beach profiles needed to model coastal erosion are available only for sandy shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Exposure was not modeled for less-erodible rocky coasts and bluffs, though the latter can be prone to sudden failure in some areas. In addition, modeling did not account for: (1) existing seawalls or other coastal armoring in the backshore; (2) increasing wave energy across the fringing reef with sea level rise; (3) possible changes in reef accretion and nearshore sediment processes with sea level rise; and (4) possible changes to sediment supply from future shoreline development and engineering, such as construction or removal of coastal armoring or other coastal engineering. Data compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) for the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Viewer hosted at https://pacioos.org/shoreline/slr-hawaii/. Users of these data should cite the following publication: Anderson, T.R., Fletcher, C.H., Barbee, M.M., Frazer, L.N., and B.M. Romine (2015). Doubling of Coastal Erosion Under Rising Sea Level by Mid-Century in Hawaii, Natural Hazards, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1698-6. For further information, please see the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report: https://climateadaptation.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SLR-Report_Dec2017.pdf
- API
SLR Coastal Erosion - 0.5 Ft. Scenario
highways.hidot.hawaii.gov | Last Updated 2023-03-24T01:38:37.000ZUPDATED - Nov. 2020. Studies of historical shoreline change using aerial photographs and survey maps show that 70% of beaches on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui are eroding (receding landward) (Fletcher et al. 2012). Beaches exist in a delicate balance between existing water levels, wave energy, and sand supply. Coastal erosion modeling was conducted for sandy shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui by the University of Hawaii Coastal Geology Group. The methods are described in Anderson et al. (2015) and combine historical shoreline change data with a model of beach profile response to sea level rise from Davidson-Arnott (2005) in order to estimate probabilities of future exposure to erosion at transects (shore-perpendicular measurement locations) spaced approximately 20 meters apart along the shoreline. The model accounts for localized alongshore variability in shoreline change by incorporating trends from the historical erosion mapping studies. Historical data used to model coastal erosion consisted of: (1) historical shoreline positions and erosion rates measured from high-resolution (0.5 meters) ortho-rectified aerial photographs and NOAA topographic charts dating back to the early 1900s (Fletcher et al. 2012, Romine et al. 2013), and (2) beach profile field survey data (Gibbs et al. 2001, Fletcher et al. 2012). The vegetation line was identified in the most recent aerial photography dating from 2006 to 2008. The output of the modeling is the estimated exposure zone to future erosion hazards. Based on the model and IPCC AR5 RCP8.5 sea level rise scenario, there is an 80% probability that land impacted by erosion would be confined within the exposure zone at that particular time. The exposure zones extend landward from the current-day shoreline (vegetation line) up to the 80% cumulative probability contour from sea level rise at 0.5, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2 feet, which incorporates the uncertainty (upper and lower bounds) of the IPCC RCP8.5 sea level rise projection. This particular layer depicts coastal erosion using the 0.5-ft (0.1660-m) sea level rise scenario. While the RCP8.5 predicts that this scenario would be reached by the year 2030, questions remain around the exact timing of sea level rise and recent observations and projections suggest a sooner arrival. Assumptions and Limitations: Historical shoreline change data and beach profiles needed to model coastal erosion are available only for sandy shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Exposure was not modeled for less-erodible rocky coasts and bluffs, though the latter can be prone to sudden failure in some areas. In addition, modeling did not account for: (1) existing seawalls or other coastal armoring in the backshore; (2) increasing wave energy across the fringing reef with sea level rise; (3) possible changes in reef accretion and nearshore sediment processes with sea level rise; and (4) possible changes to sediment supply from future shoreline development and engineering, such as construction or removal of coastal armoring or other coastal engineering. Data compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) for the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Viewer hosted at https://pacioos.org/shoreline/slr-hawaii/. Users of these data should cite the following publication: Anderson, T.R., Fletcher, C.H., Barbee, M.M., Frazer, L.N., and B.M. Romine (2015). Doubling of Coastal Erosion Under Rising Sea Level by Mid-Century in Hawaii, Natural Hazards, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1698-6. For further information, please see the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report: https://climateadaptation.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SLR-Report_Dec2017.pdf
- API
SLR Coastal Erosion (Line) - 3.2 Ft. Scenario
highways.hidot.hawaii.gov | Last Updated 2023-03-24T01:38:30.000ZUPDATED - Nov. 2020. Studies of historical shoreline change using aerial photographs and survey maps show that 70% of beaches on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui are eroding (receding landward) (Fletcher et al. 2012). Beaches exist in a delicate balance between existing water levels, wave energy, and sand supply. Coastal erosion modeling was conducted for sandy shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui by the University of Hawaii Coastal Geology Group. The methods are described in Anderson et al. (2015) and combine historical shoreline change data with a model of beach profile response to sea level rise from Davidson-Arnott (2005) in order to estimate probabilities of future exposure to erosion at transects (shore-perpendicular measurement locations) spaced approximately 20 meters apart along the shoreline. The model accounts for localized alongshore variability in shoreline change by incorporating trends from the historical erosion mapping studies. Historical data used to model coastal erosion consisted of: (1) historical shoreline positions and erosion rates measured from high-resolution (0.5 meters) ortho-rectified aerial photographs and NOAA topographic charts dating back to the early 1900s (Fletcher et al. 2012, Romine et al. 2013), and (2) beach profile field survey data (Gibbs et al. 2001, Fletcher et al. 2012). The vegetation line was identified in the most recent aerial photography dating from 2006 to 2008. The output of the modeling is the estimated exposure zone to future erosion hazards. Based on the model and IPCC AR5 RCP8.5 sea level rise scenario, there is an 80% probability that land impacted by erosion would be confined within the exposure zone at that particular time. The exposure zones extend landward from the current-day shoreline (vegetation line) up to the 80% cumulative probability contour from sea level rise at 0.5, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2 feet, which incorporates the uncertainty (upper and lower bounds) of the IPCC RCP8.5 sea level rise projection. This particular layer depicts coastal erosion using the 3.2-ft (0.9767-m) sea level rise scenario. While the RCP8.5 predicts that this scenario would be reached by the year 2100, questions remain around the exact timing of sea level rise and recent observations and projections suggest a sooner arrival. Assumptions and Limitations: Historical shoreline change data and beach profiles needed to model coastal erosion are available only for sandy shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Exposure was not modeled for less-erodible rocky coasts and bluffs, though the latter can be prone to sudden failure in some areas. In addition, modeling did not account for: (1) existing seawalls or other coastal armoring in the backshore; (2) increasing wave energy across the fringing reef with sea level rise; (3) possible changes in reef accretion and nearshore sediment processes with sea level rise; and (4) possible changes to sediment supply from future shoreline development and engineering, such as construction or removal of coastal armoring or other coastal engineering. Data compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) for the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Viewer hosted at https://pacioos.org/shoreline/slr-hawaii/. Users of these data should cite the following publication: Anderson, T.R., Fletcher, C.H., Barbee, M.M., Frazer, L.N., and B.M. Romine (2015). Doubling of Coastal Erosion Under Rising Sea Level by Mid-Century in Hawaii, Natural Hazards, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1698-6. For further information, please see the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report: https://climateadaptation.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SLR-Report_Dec2017.pdf
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SLR Coastal Erosion - 2.0 Ft. Scenario
highways.hidot.hawaii.gov | Last Updated 2023-03-24T01:38:09.000ZUPDATED - Nov. 2020. Studies of historical shoreline change using aerial photographs and survey maps show that 70% of beaches on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui are eroding (receding landward) (Fletcher et al. 2012). Beaches exist in a delicate balance between existing water levels, wave energy, and sand supply. Coastal erosion modeling was conducted for sandy shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui by the University of Hawaii Coastal Geology Group. The methods are described in Anderson et al. (2015) and combine historical shoreline change data with a model of beach profile response to sea level rise from Davidson-Arnott (2005) in order to estimate probabilities of future exposure to erosion at transects (shore-perpendicular measurement locations) spaced approximately 20 meters apart along the shoreline. The model accounts for localized alongshore variability in shoreline change by incorporating trends from the historical erosion mapping studies. Historical data used to model coastal erosion consisted of: (1) historical shoreline positions and erosion rates measured from high-resolution (0.5 meters) ortho-rectified aerial photographs and NOAA topographic charts dating back to the early 1900s (Fletcher et al. 2012, Romine et al. 2013), and (2) beach profile field survey data (Gibbs et al. 2001, Fletcher et al. 2012). The vegetation line was identified in the most recent aerial photography dating from 2006 to 2008. The output of the modeling is the estimated exposure zone to future erosion hazards. Based on the model and IPCC AR5 RCP8.5 sea level rise scenario, there is an 80% probability that land impacted by erosion would be confined within the exposure zone at that particular time. The exposure zones extend landward from the current-day shoreline (vegetation line) up to the 80% cumulative probability contour from sea level rise at 0.5, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2 feet, which incorporates the uncertainty (upper and lower bounds) of the IPCC RCP8.5 sea level rise projection. This particular layer depicts coastal erosion using the 2.0-ft (0.5991-m) sea level rise scenario. While the RCP8.5 predicts that this scenario would be reached by the year 2075, questions remain around the exact timing of sea level rise and recent observations and projections suggest a sooner arrival. Assumptions and Limitations: Historical shoreline change data and beach profiles needed to model coastal erosion are available only for sandy shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Exposure was not modeled for less-erodible rocky coasts and bluffs, though the latter can be prone to sudden failure in some areas. In addition, modeling did not account for: (1) existing seawalls or other coastal armoring in the backshore; (2) increasing wave energy across the fringing reef with sea level rise; (3) possible changes in reef accretion and nearshore sediment processes with sea level rise; and (4) possible changes to sediment supply from future shoreline development and engineering, such as construction or removal of coastal armoring or other coastal engineering. Data compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) for the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Viewer hosted at https://pacioos.org/shoreline/slr-hawaii/. Users of these data should cite the following publication: Anderson, T.R., Fletcher, C.H., Barbee, M.M., Frazer, L.N., and B.M. Romine (2015). Doubling of Coastal Erosion Under Rising Sea Level by Mid-Century in Hawaii, Natural Hazards, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1698-6. For further information, please see the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report: https://climateadaptation.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SLR-Report_Dec2017.pdf
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SLR Coastal Erosion (Line) - 1.1 Ft. Scenario
highways.hidot.hawaii.gov | Last Updated 2023-03-24T01:38:41.000ZUPDATED - Nov. 2020. Studies of historical shoreline change using aerial photographs and survey maps show that 70% of beaches on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui are eroding (receding landward) (Fletcher et al. 2012). Beaches exist in a delicate balance between existing water levels, wave energy, and sand supply. Coastal erosion modeling was conducted for sandy shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui by the University of Hawaii Coastal Geology Group. The methods are described in Anderson et al. (2015) and combine historical shoreline change data with a model of beach profile response to sea level rise from Davidson-Arnott (2005) in order to estimate probabilities of future exposure to erosion at transects (shore-perpendicular measurement locations) spaced approximately 20 meters apart along the shoreline. The model accounts for localized alongshore variability in shoreline change by incorporating trends from the historical erosion mapping studies. Historical data used to model coastal erosion consisted of: (1) historical shoreline positions and erosion rates measured from high-resolution (0.5 meters) ortho-rectified aerial photographs and NOAA topographic charts dating back to the early 1900s (Fletcher et al. 2012, Romine et al. 2013), and (2) beach profile field survey data (Gibbs et al. 2001, Fletcher et al. 2012). The vegetation line was identified in the most recent aerial photography dating from 2006 to 2008. The output of the modeling is the estimated exposure zone to future erosion hazards. Based on the model and IPCC AR5 RCP8.5 sea level rise scenario, there is an 80% probability that land impacted by erosion would be confined within the exposure zone at that particular time. The exposure zones extend landward from the current-day shoreline (vegetation line) up to the 80% cumulative probability contour from sea level rise at 0.5, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2 feet, which incorporates the uncertainty (upper and lower bounds) of the IPCC RCP8.5 sea level rise projection. This particular layer depicts coastal erosion using the 1.1-ft (0.3224-m) sea level rise scenario. While the RCP8.5 predicts that this scenario would be reached by the year 2050, questions remain around the exact timing of sea level rise and recent observations and projections suggest a sooner arrival. Assumptions and Limitations: Historical shoreline change data and beach profiles needed to model coastal erosion are available only for sandy shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Exposure was not modeled for less-erodible rocky coasts and bluffs, though the latter can be prone to sudden failure in some areas. In addition, modeling did not account for: (1) existing seawalls or other coastal armoring in the backshore; (2) increasing wave energy across the fringing reef with sea level rise; (3) possible changes in reef accretion and nearshore sediment processes with sea level rise; and (4) possible changes to sediment supply from future shoreline development and engineering, such as construction or removal of coastal armoring or other coastal engineering. Data compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) for the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Viewer hosted at https://pacioos.org/shoreline/slr-hawaii/. Users of these data should cite the following publication: Anderson, T.R., Fletcher, C.H., Barbee, M.M., Frazer, L.N., and B.M. Romine (2015). Doubling of Coastal Erosion Under Rising Sea Level by Mid-Century in Hawaii, Natural Hazards, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1698-6. For further information, please see the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report: https://climateadaptation.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SLR-Report_Dec2017.pdf
- API
SLR Coastal Erosion (Line) - 2.0 Ft. Scenario
highways.hidot.hawaii.gov | Last Updated 2023-03-24T01:38:37.000ZUPDATED - Nov. 2020. Studies of historical shoreline change using aerial photographs and survey maps show that 70% of beaches on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui are eroding (receding landward) (Fletcher et al. 2012). Beaches exist in a delicate balance between existing water levels, wave energy, and sand supply. Coastal erosion modeling was conducted for sandy shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui by the University of Hawaii Coastal Geology Group. The methods are described in Anderson et al. (2015) and combine historical shoreline change data with a model of beach profile response to sea level rise from Davidson-Arnott (2005) in order to estimate probabilities of future exposure to erosion at transects (shore-perpendicular measurement locations) spaced approximately 20 meters apart along the shoreline. The model accounts for localized alongshore variability in shoreline change by incorporating trends from the historical erosion mapping studies. Historical data used to model coastal erosion consisted of: (1) historical shoreline positions and erosion rates measured from high-resolution (0.5 meters) ortho-rectified aerial photographs and NOAA topographic charts dating back to the early 1900s (Fletcher et al. 2012, Romine et al. 2013), and (2) beach profile field survey data (Gibbs et al. 2001, Fletcher et al. 2012). The vegetation line was identified in the most recent aerial photography dating from 2006 to 2008. The output of the modeling is the estimated exposure zone to future erosion hazards. Based on the model and IPCC AR5 RCP8.5 sea level rise scenario, there is an 80% probability that land impacted by erosion would be confined within the exposure zone at that particular time. The exposure zones extend landward from the current-day shoreline (vegetation line) up to the 80% cumulative probability contour from sea level rise at 0.5, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2 feet, which incorporates the uncertainty (upper and lower bounds) of the IPCC RCP8.5 sea level rise projection. This particular layer depicts coastal erosion using the 2.0-ft (0.5991-m) sea level rise scenario. While the RCP8.5 predicts that this scenario would be reached by the year 2075, questions remain around the exact timing of sea level rise and recent observations and projections suggest a sooner arrival. Assumptions and Limitations: Historical shoreline change data and beach profiles needed to model coastal erosion are available only for sandy shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Exposure was not modeled for less-erodible rocky coasts and bluffs, though the latter can be prone to sudden failure in some areas. In addition, modeling did not account for: (1) existing seawalls or other coastal armoring in the backshore; (2) increasing wave energy across the fringing reef with sea level rise; (3) possible changes in reef accretion and nearshore sediment processes with sea level rise; and (4) possible changes to sediment supply from future shoreline development and engineering, such as construction or removal of coastal armoring or other coastal engineering. Data compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) for the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Viewer hosted at https://pacioos.org/shoreline/slr-hawaii/. Users of these data should cite the following publication: Anderson, T.R., Fletcher, C.H., Barbee, M.M., Frazer, L.N., and B.M. Romine (2015). Doubling of Coastal Erosion Under Rising Sea Level by Mid-Century in Hawaii, Natural Hazards, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1698-6. For further information, please see the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report: https://climateadaptation.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SLR-Report_Dec2017.pdf
- API
SLR Coastal Erosion (Line) - 0.5 Ft. Scenario
highways.hidot.hawaii.gov | Last Updated 2023-03-24T01:38:48.000ZUPDATED - Nov. 2020. Studies of historical shoreline change using aerial photographs and survey maps show that 70% of beaches on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui are eroding (receding landward) (Fletcher et al. 2012). Beaches exist in a delicate balance between existing water levels, wave energy, and sand supply. Coastal erosion modeling was conducted for sandy shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui by the University of Hawaii Coastal Geology Group. The methods are described in Anderson et al. (2015) and combine historical shoreline change data with a model of beach profile response to sea level rise from Davidson-Arnott (2005) in order to estimate probabilities of future exposure to erosion at transects (shore-perpendicular measurement locations) spaced approximately 20 meters apart along the shoreline. The model accounts for localized alongshore variability in shoreline change by incorporating trends from the historical erosion mapping studies. Historical data used to model coastal erosion consisted of: (1) historical shoreline positions and erosion rates measured from high-resolution (0.5 meters) ortho-rectified aerial photographs and NOAA topographic charts dating back to the early 1900s (Fletcher et al. 2012, Romine et al. 2013), and (2) beach profile field survey data (Gibbs et al. 2001, Fletcher et al. 2012). The vegetation line was identified in the most recent aerial photography dating from 2006 to 2008. The output of the modeling is the estimated exposure zone to future erosion hazards. Based on the model and IPCC AR5 RCP8.5 sea level rise scenario, there is an 80% probability that land impacted by erosion would be confined within the exposure zone at that particular time. The exposure zones extend landward from the current-day shoreline (vegetation line) up to the 80% cumulative probability contour from sea level rise at 0.5, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2 feet, which incorporates the uncertainty (upper and lower bounds) of the IPCC RCP8.5 sea level rise projection. This particular layer depicts coastal erosion using the 0.5-ft (0.1660-m) sea level rise scenario. While the RCP8.5 predicts that this scenario would be reached by the year 2030, questions remain around the exact timing of sea level rise and recent observations and projections suggest a sooner arrival. Assumptions and Limitations: Historical shoreline change data and beach profiles needed to model coastal erosion are available only for sandy shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Exposure was not modeled for less-erodible rocky coasts and bluffs, though the latter can be prone to sudden failure in some areas. In addition, modeling did not account for: (1) existing seawalls or other coastal armoring in the backshore; (2) increasing wave energy across the fringing reef with sea level rise; (3) possible changes in reef accretion and nearshore sediment processes with sea level rise; and (4) possible changes to sediment supply from future shoreline development and engineering, such as construction or removal of coastal armoring or other coastal engineering. Data compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) for the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Viewer hosted at https://pacioos.org/shoreline/slr-hawaii/. Users of these data should cite the following publication: Anderson, T.R., Fletcher, C.H., Barbee, M.M., Frazer, L.N., and B.M. Romine (2015). Doubling of Coastal Erosion Under Rising Sea Level by Mid-Century in Hawaii, Natural Hazards, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1698-6. For further information, please see the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report: https://climateadaptation.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SLR-Report_Dec2017.pdf