Three-dimensional remote sensing of coastal morphologic change: Accuracy, analysis and predictors of vulnerability

This research uses three-dimensional topographic data to quantify changes in coastal dunes. The dissertation is presented as a series of four papers. The first addresses the accuracy of the digital photogrammetry-derived data sets and shows that the data are sufficiently accurate to measure changes in the dune field. The second uses three-dimensional data to measure and analyze wind-induced changes over a period of 20 years in a large dune field in coastal North Carolina, and demonstrates that no substantial loss of sediment material occurred. The final two papers focus on hurricane-induced changes on North Carolina barrier islands: dune overwash and erosion are first examined in two and three dimensions, then the data are used to develop a simple parameter to predict coastal dune failure due to storm-induced erosion. The new parameter, termed erosion resistance, ER, is successfully tested in another North Carolina barrier island study area.