PART V: SUMMARY 



68. Predicting the effects of storms on beaches is one of the most 

 important and difficult problems facing coastal engineers. Unfortunately, 

 there are insufficient data worldwide to test and evaluate storm erosion 

 models. This report presents a detailed collection of data which quantifies 

 the effects of 13 storms on 7 different east coast beaches. The data have 

 been carefully selected and edited from a larger collection of beach surveys 

 made by CERC between 1962 to 1978. 



69. Included in this report are figures which document the wave and 

 tide conditions during each storm along with actual profile cross sections. 

 Additional tables summarize volvime, shoreline, and beach slope changes. 

 These data can be used for many purposes including the following: 



a_. Estimating the amount of erosion for similar storms and 

 beaches; and the range of changes that may occur along a 

 beach. 



b. Testing and verifying models of erosion based on profile 

 shape, volume, slope, etc. 



c_. Examining the vertical erosion of the beach face and changes 

 in beach width. 



Though the primary intent of this report is to present the data in a usable 

 format, analysis of the data revealed some interesting relationships. 



70. Of the parameters examined, median volume change above NGVD was 

 the best indicator of a storm's effect. Shoreline position and beach slope 

 changes were less informative. This appeared to result from the shoreline 

 position acting as a pivot point with erosion occurring on higher contours. 

 These data also quantify the considerable amount of alongshore variation 

 which occurs during storms. Although some profile lines eroded for each of 

 the 46 cases, accretion was measured in all but 11 instances. Three cases 

 had positive median volume changes. Using simple linear regression, the peak 

 water level was found to be a weak, though linear, predictor of median volume 

 change . 



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