Detecting Small-scale Topographic Changes and Relict Geomorphic Features on Barrier Islands using SAR
Area Description
The barrier island system studied for the topography mission extends from Freeport, Texas to Northeast of Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula. The study areas on Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula have a relief of less than 4 meters and are composed of distinct
sub-environments and morphological features. These
sub-environments and features include
- multiple beach ridges and swales,
- vegetated barrier flats,
- foredunes,
- high- and low-salt-water marshes,
- intertidal/wind-tidal flats,
- tidal creeks,
- tidal deltas, and
- exposed and sheltered beaches.
Also present are relict washover fan/flood-tidal delta complexes. Salinity, vegetation, sediment/soil type, and surface roughness vary significantly between these areas.
Beach ridges have dry, shelly sand sediment, and intervening swales between ridges are wetter with some having standing water. Barrier flats are also made of shelly sand and support land uses such as agriculture, ranching, and urban/recreational development. Sediments forming salt-water marshes and intertidal/wind-tidal flats contain more mud, are wetter, and potentially have a higher salinity than other environments. Sediments on active ocean-side beaches are fine sand with a large alongshore variation in gravel-sized shell content. Foredunes behind the beaches consists of dry well-sorted sand.
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Last Modified: Wed Apr 14, 1999
CSR/TSGC Team Web
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