Irish, J. D.

Ward, Larry G.

English

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping
10-2014
Morphologic Changes of a Heavily Developed and
Modified Back-Barrier System: Hampton-Seabrook
Harbor, New Hampshire
Larry G. Ward
University of New Hampshire, lgward@ad.unh.edu
J. D. Irish
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/ccom
This Conference Proceeding is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at University of New Hampshire
Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping by an authorized administrator of University of New
Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
L. G. Ward and Irish, J. D., “Morphologic Changes of a Heavily Developed and Modified Back-Barrier System: Hampton-Seabrook
Harbor, New Hampshire”, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2014
Abstract: MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES OF A HEAVILY DEVELOPED AND MODIFIED BACK-BARRIER SYSTEM: HAMPTON-SEABROOK HARBOR, NEW HAMPSHIRE (2014 GSA Annual ...
https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2014AM/webprogram/Paper249031.html[8/5/2015 2:18:30 PM]
Start View Uploaded Presentations Author Index Meeting Information
2014 GSA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia (19–22
 October 2014)
Paper No. 340-3
Presentation Time: 1:45 PM
 MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES OF A HEAVILY DEVELOPED AND MODIFIED BACK-BARRIER
 SYSTEM: HAMPTON-SEABROOK HARBOR, NEW HAMPSHIRE
WARD, Larry, Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New
 Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, larry.ward@unh.edu and IRISH, James, Ocean Engineering Program, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering,
 University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824
 Hampton-Seabrook Harbor, New Hampshire, is a heavily developed and highly modified back-barrier system characterized by unstable tidal channels,
 extensive sand shoals, and fully developed salt marshes with extensive high marsh platforms. The back-barrier system, along with the accompanying tidal inlet
 (Hampton Inlet) and barriers (Seabrook Beach and Hampton Beach) have been modified by jetties, seawalls, bulkheads, frequent dredging and periodic beach
 nourishment. Since 2002, several studies have been conducted by the University of New Hampshire with assistance from the USACE to assess the
 morphologic development of the back-barrier system and potential impacts of engineering structures. The semidiurnal tides in Hampton-Seabrook Harbor (2.5
 m mean; 2.9 m spring) are controlled by eight tidal constituents (99% of the variance), with the M2 and N2 constituents accounting for 96% of the variance.
 Meteorological conditions cause aperiodic storm surges as demonstrated by water levels in the upper estuary being ~50 cm higher than predicted during a
 wind event. Typically, water level residuals (surges) result from weather forced sea-level changes in the western Gulf of Maine propagating into Hampton-
Seabrook Harbor. The tidal forcing in Hampton-Seabrook Harbor results in strong tidal currents in the back-barrier channels with peak observed velocities on
 the order of 50 to 75 cm/s, with significant vertical and cross-channel flows (~10 to 20 cm/s). Orthorectified aerial imagery from 1943 to present reveal the
 evolution of the back-barrier system and how modifications of the inlet via jetty construction and extension have impacted the ebb tidal delta complex.
Session No. 340
T179. Back-Barrier Systems in Times of Change
Wednesday, 22 October 2014: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Vancouver Convention Centre-West 212
 Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 46, No. 6, p.818
 © Copyright 2014 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and
 distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and
 reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include
 the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission
 from GSA Copyright Permissions.
 See more of: Back-Barrier Systems in Times of Change
 See more of: Topical Sessions
<< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>


Morphologic Changes of a Heavily Developed and Modified Back-Barrier System: Hampton-Seabrook Harbor, New Hampshire

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryCenter for Coastal and Ocean Mapping Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping10-2014Morphologic Changes of a Heavily Developed andModified Back-Barrier System: Hampton-SeabrookHarbor, New HampshireLarry G. WardUniversity of New Hampshire, lgward@ad.unh.eduJ. D. IrishFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/ccomThis Conference Proceeding is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at University of New HampshireScholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping by an authorized administrator of University of NewHampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationL. G. Ward and Irish, J. D., “Morphologic Changes of a Heavily Developed and Modified Back-Barrier System: Hampton-SeabrookHarbor, New Hampshire”, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2014Abstract: MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES OF A HEAVILY DEVELOPED AND MODIFIED BACK-BARRIER SYSTEM: HAMPTON-SEABROOK HARBOR, NEW HAMPSHIRE (2014 GSA Annual ...https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2014AM/webprogram/Paper249031.html[8/5/2015 2:18:30 PM]Start View Uploaded Presentations Author Index Meeting Information2014 GSA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia (19–22 October 2014)Paper No. 340-3Presentation Time: 1:45 PM MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES OF A HEAVILY DEVELOPED AND MODIFIED BACK-BARRIER SYSTEM: HAMPTON-SEABROOK HARBOR, NEW HAMPSHIREWARD, Larry, Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, larry.ward@unh.edu and IRISH, James, Ocean Engineering Program, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 Hampton-Seabrook Harbor, New Hampshire, is a heavily developed and highly modified back-barrier system characterized by unstable tidal channels, extensive sand shoals, and fully developed salt marshes with extensive high marsh platforms. The back-barrier system, along with the accompanying tidal inlet (Hampton Inlet) and barriers (Seabrook Beach and Hampton Beach) have been modified by jetties, seawalls, bulkheads, frequent dredging and periodic beach nourishment. Since 2002, several studies have been conducted by the University of New Hampshire with assistance from the USACE to assess the morphologic development of the back-barrier system and potential impacts of engineering structures. The semidiurnal tides in Hampton-Seabrook Harbor (2.5 m mean; 2.9 m spring) are controlled by eight tidal constituents (99% of the variance), with the M2 and N2 constituents accounting for 96% of the variance. Meteorological conditions cause aperiodic storm surges as demonstrated by water levels in the upper estuary being ~50 cm higher than predicted during a wind event. Typically, water level residuals (surges) result from weather forced sea-level changes in the western Gulf of Maine propagating into Hampton-Seabrook Harbor. The tidal forcing in Hampton-Seabrook Harbor results in strong tidal currents in the back-barrier channels with peak observed velocities on the order of 50 to 75 cm/s, with significant vertical and cross-channel flows (~10 to 20 cm/s). Orthorectified aerial imagery from 1943 to present reveal the evolution of the back-barrier system and how modifications of the inlet via jetty construction and extension have impacted the ebb tidal delta complex.Session No. 340T179. Back-Barrier Systems in Times of ChangeWednesday, 22 October 2014: 1:00 PM-5:00 PMVancouver Convention Centre-West 212 Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 46, No. 6, p.818 © Copyright 2014 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions. See more of: Back-Barrier Systems in Times of Change See more of: Topical Sessions<< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>

https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1051&context=ccom

Morphologic Changes of a Heavily Developed and Modified Back-Barrier System: Hampton-Seabrook Harbor, New Hampshire

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of New Hampshire

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New Hampshire