Document Type

Published Paper

Associated Faculty

Kimberly Huguenard

Sponsoring Academic Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Editor

Tiffany Roberts Briggs, Ph.D.

Bret Webb, Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE

Rights and Access Note

Copyright of Shore & Beach is the property of American Shore & Beach Preservation Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.

Publication Title

Shore & Beach

Publisher

American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA)

Publication Date

9-1-2025

Publisher location

Beaufort, South Carolina

Issue Number

3

Volume Number

93

Abstract/ Summary

Coastal observations play a vital role in advancing our understanding of coastal processes and in validating numerical models at regional scales. With the growing reliance on analytical and numerical models in coastal and estuarine science, the collection of high-quality datasets is essential — not only for fundamental coastal research, but also for effective coastal engineering practice. This work presents a methods-focused study that customizes conventional field deployment techniques to improve the efficiency and accuracy of data collection in estuarine environments. Data processing methods are presented to analyze and interpret tidally varying free surface elevation and velocity data. The research includes a field campaign conducted in a macrotidal estuary, characterized by unique features such as bridges, dams, and sediment contamination. The findings focus on water levels and velocities, particularly under extreme conditions observed during Hurricane Lee. The results reveal that extreme conditions, such as Hurricane Lee, can generate stronger subtidal velocities — reaching up to 1 m/s-due to high river discharge occurring during the post-storm rainy periods. This, in turn, can lead to enhanced transport of materials such as sediments, nutrients, and contaminants. Additionally, bed shear stresses increase during these high-flow events, potentially enhancing sediment re-suspension, which can impact marine habitats and ecosystems. This research emphasizes the importance of high quality estuarine data and aims to streamline future oceanographic and estuarine field investigations, reducing time and effort in data collection and processing.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Lakmali, E. N., Huguenard, K., & Fisher, N. R. (2025). Techniques in coastal observations: Challenges and insights for studying estuarine dynamics. Shore & Beach, 93(3).

DOI

10.34237/1009331

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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In Copyright