Dr. Norm Catto Coastal Erosion in NL.pdf - Atlantic Climate ...

Coastal Erosion in Newfoundland
Opinions expressed are exclusively my own
Norm Catto
ncatto@mun.ca

Coastal Zones
Rising sea level & erosion are
occurring
If your property is eroding, the cause is
less important than is taking action
Adaptive capacity exists & should be
utilized

Coastal Zone - Research
ongoing monitoring of sensitive coastal
areas
base-line data for coastal erosion
investigation of the effects of
storm surge activity
analysis of wave &surge dynamics
rates and processes of coastal bluff erosion
consideration of the effectiveness of
adaptation strategies

Study Parameters
Newfoundland (including adjacent islands)
122 1:50,000 scale maps
Field, office, laboratory research May 2010-2012
March 2011 summary report
Detailed community reports – Ferryland, Corner Brook,
Irishtown-Summerside, Fortune, Lumsden, Indian Bay,
Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove
Ongoing study of other individual locations

Components
Shoreline Classification of coastal geomorphology &
sedimentology at ~50 m intervals (~193,000 pts)
Sensitivity to short-term coastal erosion, through new
Coastal Erosion Index (CEI) (1472 locations)
Sensitivity to long-term coastal erosion & sea-level rise,
Coastal Sensitivity Index (CSI) (1472 locations)
Petroleum Vulnerability Index (PVI) (1472 locations)

Shoreline Classification System
“Substrate”: rock and /or sediment
Sediment type: by texture
Width: “wide” > 30 m, “narrow” ≤ 30 m
Steepness: “steep” > 20°; gentle ≤ 20°
27 possible categories

Ferryland (S): 13, wide gravel flat

Fortune E:
18, Steep Gravel & Sand Beach

Coastal Erosion Index
sediment type (parameter values 1-4)
shoreline classification (1-5)
sediment flux (1-5)
aspect (1-5)
extent of seasonal ice and snow cover (1-2)
CEI = (product of five parameter values / 10)
Higher CEI value indicates greater sensitivity to shortterm
coastal erosion

Corner Brook CEI = 8.0

Middle Cove CEI = 20

CEI
Very Low Sensitivity: CEI 20.0
Median for Newfoundland 10.3

Coastal Sensitivity Index
sea-level change (amount of rise or fall per year) (1-5);
Relief (1-5);
mean annual maximum significant wave height;
rock and/or sediment type exposed along the shore;
landform type (e.g. cliff, beach, salt marsh);
shoreline displacement (laterally, expressed in m/a); and
tidal range
CSI = √ (product of scores of all 7 parameters/7)
Higher CSI values indicate sensitivity to long-term
erosion

Fortune Head CSI =7.3

Lumsden E CSI = 39.4

CSI
Very Low Sensitivity: CSI 35.0
Median for Newfoundland: 18.5

Petroleum Exposure
Marine Exposure (M) (1-5)
Terrestrial Exposure (T) (1-2.5)
Current Direction (D) (1-2)
Maximum Exposure Value = M 2 *T*D = 125

Petroleum Sensitivity
Shoreline Class and sediment type (S) 1-5
Energy Level (E)
Energy Regime (R)
Maximum Sensitivity Value = S *E* R = 125

Petroleum Vulnerability Index
PVI = √{(S *E* R) (M 2 *T*D)}
The maximum possible value for the PVI is √(125)*(125)
= 125
Median 17.1

PVI
Very Low Sensitivity: PVI 35.0
Median for Newfoundland 17.1

Site Shoreline CEI CSI PVI
Belloram Gravel and Sand
Beach
11.3
moderate
Boxey Gravel & Sand Flat 22.7
very high
Harbour
Breton
Gravel and Sand
Beach and Flat
Dawsons Cove Sand and Gravel
Beach
Gaultois Gravel Beach and
Rock Cliff
St. Alban’s Gravel and Sand
Beach and Rock Cliff
11.3
moderate
33.7
extreme
12.0
moderate
8.0
low
24.7
high
30.1
high
21.2
moderate
27.8
high
14.4
low
27.2
high
19.6
low
18.0
low
18.0
low
Island median --- 10.3 18.5 17.1
22.0
moderate
14.7
Very low
23.2
moderate

Site Shoreline Classification CEI CSI PVI
Ferryland N 6: Gravel Beach w. Rock Cliff
8.4
24.5
14.7
9: Gravel & Sand Beach with Rock Cliff
low
high
very low
Ferryland Head 6: Gravel Beach w. Rock Cliff
6.4
15.9
12.3
3: Rock Cliff
low
moderate very low
Ferryland 15: Steep Gravel Beach
32.0
28.7
13.9
18: Steep Gravel & Sand Beach
extreme
high
very low
Ferryland S 13/14/15: Wide to Narrow Gravel Flat; Steep 14.4
22.6
14.7
Gravel Beach
6: Gravel Beach w. Rock Cliff
moderate moderate very low

t LaHaye