MANY COASTAL AREAS ARE AT RISK OF EROSION DUE TO RISING SEA LEVELS AND HIGH WAVE VELOCITIES

Many coastal areas are at risk of erosion due to rising sea levels and high wave velocities. Previous research has discovered that methods such as shoreline armoring only worsen erosion, intensify storm conditions, and endanger coastal communities. Instead of shoreline armoring, living shorelines have emerged as an eco-friendly and efficient approach to protecting the coast. To understand the effects of a new living shoreline construction on the coast, water depth data was collected at Hammocks Beach State Park, North Carolina in between the high and low tides using transect sampling. The data from five transects was applied to create a 3D bathymetric map of the site area. The results suggest that the current shoreline of Hammocks Beach is susceptible to erosion due to sudden increases in the water depth values. In addition, this area could also experience extreme storm conditions if sea levels continue to rise. Constructing a living shoreline will stabilize the coast of Hammocks Beach and mitigate the effects of erosion and coastal property damage. Future research should be conducted on the site area after the implementation of the living shoreline to measure the changes in the shoreline.