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Variability in Geologic Framework and Shoreline Change: Assateague and Wallops Islands, Eastern Shore of Virginia

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Variability in Geologic Framework and Shoreline Change: Assateague and Wallops Islands, Eastern Shore of Virginia W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 2008 Variability in Geologic Framework and Shoreline Change: Assateague and Wallops Islands, Eastern Shore of Virginia Geoffrey L. Wikel College of William and Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine Science Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Geomorphology Commons, and the Physical and Environmental Geography Commons Recommended Citation Wikel, Geoffrey L., "Variability in Geologic Framework and Shoreline Change: Assateague and Wallops Islands, Eastern Shore of Virginia" (2008). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539617877. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25773/v5-mk4v-4r15 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. VARIABILITY IN GEOLOGIC FRAMEWORK AND SHORELINE CHANGE: ASSATEAGUE AND WALLOPS ISLANDS, EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the School of Marine Science The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Opthe Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Geoffrey L. Wikel 2008 APPROVAL SHEET This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Geoffrey L. Wikel Approved, April 2008 Carl H. Hobbs III., Ph.D. Comnfrftee Chairman/Ad visor Carl H. Htf sHher, Ph.D M°)/L— Je4se E. McNiifch, Ph.D ' David E. Krantz University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................iii LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................iv LIST OF FIGURES..............................................................................................v ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................2 LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................... 6 Variability in Shoreline Change...........................................................6 Framework Geology and Shoreline Behavior ..................................... 8 Nearshore Morphology and Shoreline Behavior ................................. 12 STUDY AREA.......................................................................................................17 Geologic Setting ..................................................................................... 17 Physical Setting ...................................................................................... 20 METHODOLOGY............................................................................................... 22 Shoreline Change Statistics ...................................................................22 Characterization of Nearshore Morphology ........................................ 24 Geophysical Mapping and Seismic Stratigraphic Characterization...26 Cross-Correlation Analysis ................................................................... 28 RESULTS..............................................................................................................30 Variability in Shoreline Change............................................................30 Assateague Island ............................. 30 Wallops Island ........................................................................... 32 Nearshore Morphology ................................................................. 33 Nearshore of Assateague Island ............................................... 35 Nearshore of Wallops Island .................................................... 37 Historic Morphologic Changes ................................................ 38 Nearshore Seismic Stratigraphy and Geologic Framework ............... 40 Pre-Holocene Geology ..............................................................41 Holocene Geology ..................................................................... 42 Holocene Sand Cover ................................................................46 Cross-Correlation of Shoreline Change and Geologic Framework... 47 DISCUSSION........................................................................................................ 53 Underlying Geologic Influence on Coastal Evolution ........................53 Correlating Geologic Framework and Shoreline Change ...................61 Shoreline Response Adjacent to Nearshore Morphology ...................66 Challenges to Quantifying the Relationship between Geologic Framework and Shoreline Change .......................... 67 Shoreline Predictions using Nearshore Sand Volume ....................... 71 CONCLUSIONS...................................................................................................76 APPENDIX: REVIEW OF CROSS-CORRELATION ANALYSIS...............82 Introduction ............................................................................................82 Autocorrelation ......................................................................................83 Adjusting the Test Procedure: Calculating Effective Sample Size.. .85 Pre-Whitening ........................................................................................89 Conclusions ............................................................................................91 REFERENCES...................................................................................................... 93 TABLES.................................................................................................................107 FIGURES...............................................................................................................117 VITA ..................................................................................................................... 200 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I sincerely appreciate the support of my committee members: Dr. Carl Hobbs, Dr. Jesse McNinch, Dr. Carl Hershner, and Dr. David Krantz. I am indebted to Dr. David Krantz and Dr. Douglas Levin, who graciously allowed me to participate in their research program sponsored by the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. Dr. David Krantz deserves special mention for his contribution during our many conversations about the study area. I acknowledge the following individuals for sharing data: Gregg Williams, engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Norfolk District, provided vibracore data; Arty Rodriquez, cartographer with the National Park Service, provided DGPS shorelines collected by Park Service personnel; and, Michael Fenster, faculty at Randolph Macon College, provided surface sediment sample data. I thank Dr. Jennifer Miselis (U.S. Naval Research Laboratory) and Courtney Schupp (National Park Service) for critically reviewing this thesis and offering insightful comments that improved content and direction. I thank my family for their constant encouragement. I am particularly grateful to my wife, Diane Shearon, for her tireless patience and unwavering support. LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Shoreline position data .................................................................................... 108 2. Shoreline position uncertainty estimates ........................................................109 3. Bathymetry digital elevation model data ....................................................... 110 4. Bathymetry DEM and isopachuncertainty estimates ...................................I l l 5. Cross-correlation: shoreline mobility and shoreline change ........................112 6. Volume changes between 1933/34 and 1978/1982 by isopach region 113 7. Description of Quaternary seismic stratigraphy ............................................114 8. Cross-correlation of geologic framework and shoreline change ................. 115 9. Comparison of offshore environments and shoreline behavior for Assateague and Wallops Islands ........................................................... 116 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Map of southern Assateague Island and Wallops Island .............................. 119 2. Oblique view of nearshore morphology and barrier beach of southern Assateague Island ....................................................................121 3. Conceptual diagram of nearshore zone ..........................................................123 4. Maryland and Virginia inner shelf stratigraphy ............................................ 125 5. Progradation of southern Assateague Island and shoreline mobility near Assateague Point .............................................................................127 6. Map showing geophysical tracklines ............................................................ 129 7. Example sections of processed chirp seismic data .......................................131 8. Shoreline change and orientation data for southern Assateague Island .......133 9. Shoreline change data for Wallops Island .....................................................135 10. Erosion along Toms Cove, Assateague Island .............................................. 137 11. Oblique view of nearshore and inner shelf bathymetry ................................139
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