Coastal processes in Elson Lagoon, Barrow, Alaska

Investigation of the coastal processes in Elson Lagoon assesses the relationship of shoreline retreat to variations and trends in wind and wave climate. Rates and magnitudes of coastal erosion are established using environmental forcing parameters. Through comparison of storm intensity and aerial imagery over time, higher storm intensity was shown to correlate with greater erosion. Trends were compared to larger scale climate change to reveal storm frequency and intensity were not affected by Arctic Oscillation (AO). Historical wind data revealed daily winds to be the main factor in the wave generation process resulting in coastal erosion. Wave models show coastline location to open waters, wave heights and direction are factors of higher erosion rates in the southeasterly direction along Elson Lagoon and quantified by aerial imagery over time.