MR 76-2 (AD- A0zz B3l) An ERTS-1 Study of Coastal Features on the North Carolina Coast by George H. Miller and Dennis W. Berg MISCELLANEOUS REPORT NO. 76-2 JANUARY 1976 WN H OTS DOCUMENT ; COLLECTION / Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. U.S. ARMY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS COASTAL ENGINEERING are RESEARCH CENTER Bos Kingman Building _OSsl Fort Belvoir, Va. 22060 AK Reprint or republication of any of this material shall give appropriate credit to the U.S. Army Coastal Engineering Research Center. Limited free distribution within the United States of single copies of this publication has been made by this Center. Additional copies are available from: National Technical Information Service ATTN: Operations Division 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22151 Contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. L/WHOI MB ACSA NA UNCLASSIFIED SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Data Entered) READ INSTRUCTIONS REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE BEFORE COMPLETING FORM T. REPORT NUMEER 2. GOVT ACCESSION NO, 3. RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NUMBER MR 76-2 4. TITLE (and Subtitle) 5. TYPE OF REPORT & PERIOD COVERED Miscellaneous Report ,§:/PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER 8. CONTRACT OR GRANT NUMBER(, AN ERTS-1 STUDY OF COASTAL FEATURES ON THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST 7. AUTHOR(a) George H. Miller Dennis W. Berg 9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS Department of the Army Coastal Engineering Research Center (CEREN-EV) Kingman Building, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 CONTROLLING OFFICE NAME AND ADDRESS Department of the Army Coastal Engineering Research Center Kingman Building, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 14. MONITORING AGENCY NAME & ADDRESS(if different from Controlling Office) ROJECT, TASK MBERS ar z Cc 12. REPORT DATE January 1976 13. NUMBER OF PAGES 41 — IS 15. SECURITY CLASS. (of thie report) 1, UNCLASSIFIED {Sa, DECLASSIFICATION/ DOWNGRADING SCHEDULE 16. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (of this Report) Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. . DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (of the abetract entered In Block 20, if different from Report) . SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 49. KEY WORDS (Continue on reverse side if necessary and identify by block number) Remote sensing ERTS Coastal engineering North Carolina coast Morphological changes Satellite imagery Multispectral scanner Sediment Y . ABSTRACT (Continue on reverse side if necosaary and identity by block number) Unenhanced imagery recorded by the multispectral scanner (MSS) of the NASA Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) was analyzed to determine _how satellite imagery may be applied to specific coastal engineering problems. | The study area is a segment of the North Carolina coast comprising Wrights- ville Beach, Masonboro Inlet, Masonboro Beach, Carolina Beach Inlet, and Carolina ’Beach, which are areas of ongoing research by CERC. Analysis was supplemented by underflight imagery supplied by NASA and ground-truth data. FORM Z j DD , oan 73 1473 cvrtion oF 1 Nov 68 1S OBSOLETE UNSLASGRRRETD SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Data Entered) UNCLASSIFIED SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE(When Data Entered) 20. Abstract.—Continued Several significant coastal features are visible in the ERTS-1 imagery. Among those are plumes of suspended sediment emerging from inlets, changes in water coloration possibly due to effects of temperature change, inlet bars, and cape bars. In addition, morphological changes in selected coastal land features were determined by comparing ERTS-1 films obtained about 1 year apart. Limited water depth penetration is afforded by examining the lower MSS spectral bands. Maximum penetration can be expected to measure in tens of feet, depending on the physical characteristics of ocean water. Although inadequate for deeper penetration, this capability is adequate for exposure of backshore and nearshore underwater features. Image resolution capability is sufficient for observation of gross coastal features and processes but may not be adequate for viewing smaller features such as wave patterns, morphological features on beaches, and many engineering structures. 2 SECURITY Cl ®SSIFIL PREFACE This report is published to provide an analysis of the application of satellite imagery to specific coastal engineering problems. The work was carried out under the coastal processes program of the U.S. Army Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC). The report was prepared by George H. Miller, formerly of CERC, and Dennis W. Berg, Chief, Evaluation Branch, Engineering Development Division, CERC. The satellite photography and the original report were provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Contract No. S-70260-AG, submitted 30 October 1973. Comments on this publication are invited. Approved for publication in accordance with Public Law 166, 79th Congress, approved 31 July 1945, as supplemented by Public Law 172, 88th Congress, approved 7 November 1963. of Engineers Commander and Director CONTENTS Page LE VINTRODUCTION RSs. Sa eeeseees mae ee eet Ae a cone ee a , LTS STUDY AREA sores trot fe crs uieyue acest oy eigtesi's ond Ss cig ay Woy fortis cou rn Tel CHARACTERTS TMCS OR SIMAGERVae.aece pemete! yo) -Wne) ce) Le taecen