levels, from 0.4 to 1.4 m, which is typical of moderate east coast storms. 

 Not surprisingly, the relationship between peak wave height and volume change 

 above NGVD (Figure 19) is more scattered (r = -0.20), reinforcing the 

 importance of water level in controlling storm erosion. 



66. Several other relationships were also investigated using a variety 

 of parameters including wave height squared (related to wave energy) and mean 

 profile changes. Though the correlation coefficients changed, none indicated 

 significantly improved relationships. Though not tested, Balsillie (1986) 

 has recently proposed a promising relationship between above-msl erosion and 

 the storm surge height squared multiplied by the rise time of the surge 

 (related to storm duration). 



67. The lack of fit shown in Figures 18 and 19 is not unexpected 

 considering that storm erosion is dependent not only on the peak wave and 

 water level but also on: storm duration, water level at the site, sediment 

 size, presence or absence of offshore bars, effect of prior storms, and other 

 variables. Future research on the effects of these factors along with data 

 documenting severe storms is required. 



39 



