APPENDIX J: DATA SUMMARY FOR THE STORM OF 17-22 MARCH 1973 



1. Two storms occurred during the 5-day period from 17 to 22 March 

 1973 with each storm affecting different localities. The synoptic surface 

 weather maps show the development of both storm systems. Surveys covering 

 this period were collected at Nauset Beach, Westhampton, Jones Beach, Long 

 Beach Island, and Atlantic City. All surveying was conducted within 5 days 

 of the first storm on 17 March, and within 3 days after the second storm on 

 22 March. 



2. From the tide record, it appears that both storms produced 

 significant tides and surges. Peak tides reached 1.4 m above msl for both 

 storms at the Sandy Hook gage but the surges differed, 0.6m during the peak 

 tide of the first storm and 0.9 m for the second. The wave data indicate 

 that waves were higher during the first storm along the New Jersey and New 

 York coasts and during the second storm at Nauset Beach. The second storm 

 does not appear in the wave records for the Long Beach Island sites. The 

 storm passed this area because the waves were hindcasted to be moving 

 offshore . 



3. The measured beach changes do indicate that shoreline orientation 

 and wave sheltering may have been important. Though each locality had 

 individual profile lines with significant erosion, median changes were low, 

 under -6.5 m^/m, except at Westhampton which experienced its largest losses 

 with a median loss of -31.4 m^/m. The associated median shoreline change was 

 also significant, equaling -20.2 m. Apparently one of the storms, possibly 

 the second, produced significant waves from the southwest quadrant that were 

 sheltered at all sites except Westhampton. 



4. Changes did occur at the other sites though with less magnitude 

 and with greater variation. All of the sites had median erosion with most of 

 the profiles eroding. At Long Beach Island, 13 of the profiles eroded with 

 most losing between 3 and 10 m^/m. 



5. Tables and figures are arranged according to predicted and actual 

 water levels, hindcasted wave data, profile comparisons, shoreline and slope 

 changes, unit volume changes, and distribution of unit volume changes. 



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