Beach Pads and Beach Cusps, St. Joseph Peninsula (Lee D. Entsminger Thesis)

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Beach Pads and Beach Cusps, St. Joseph Peninsula (Lee D. Entsminger Thesis)
Abstract:
This study is an investigation of beach pads and beach cusps on St. Joseph Spit, Franklin County, Florida. A beach pad is defined as a roughly triangular shoreline feature with its base parallel to shore and the next longest side being updrift. An associated bar extends from the most seaward point of the pad, in a downdrift direction, nearly parallel to the updrift side. A beach cusp is defined as a cuspate feature which usually occurs in groups along the foreshore as a series of alternating horns (pointing seaward) and embayments. Coarser sediments are associated with the horns. Both features were examined by field investigation of associated wave parameters, form and internal structure, as well as water and grain motion occurring around both beach pads and cusps. Laboratory procedures included study of landsat imagery and air photos for the occurrence and measurement of physical parameters of beach pads and cusps. Laminae samples from both types of features, taken in the field, were subjected to granulometric evaluation by sieving and subsequent statistical treatment. Beach cusps in the study area were found to have two mean spacings: 12 meters and 38 meters. The 12 meter beach cusps were often associated with beach pads and occurred along the active foreshore. The 38 meter cusps were found higher on the beach after storms and are referred to as "storm cusps". Both sizes of beach cusps were commonly found to be asymmetric, pointing into the direction of wave attack. Granulometric analysis showed that sediments collecting on the horns were coarser than those in the embayments. Beach cusps were observed forming in the presence of intersecting waves of different wavelengths. The sequence of wave and cusp interaction was documented. It was concluded that beach cusp asymmetry is the result of oblique wave attack and that maintainence of these cusps was due to a regular variation in swash energy along the foreshore. Both intersecting waves and langmuir circulation were postulated as possible causes of this variation in swash energy. Beach pads were found along the shoreline of St.Joseph Spit. They were observed in groups alternating with embayments (which often cut into the dune-ridge). Beach pad length varied from 100 meters to over 400 meters. Beach pads were observed t~ migrate downdrift under oblique wave attack. Migration rates varied with size and ranged from 0.6 to 1.2 meters per day. Granulometric analysis showed a systematic change in mean grain size and sorting along the beach pad.The presence of beach pads affected wave height and breaker angle which varied along the pad. Grain motion studies showed that sand could be added to the pad, travel through the pad along the foreshore or travel along the bar to the offshore. It was concluded that because of their size, their ability to migrate and the movement of sand through each pad that they play an important role in sand transport. Because they are built and migrate under oblique wave attack, beach pads are an excellent indication of a (momentarily) unidirectional littoral drift system. Beach pads migrate due to their inability to completely adjust to a wide variety of breaker angles.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Jenkins, Christopher J. , 2002, Beach Pads and Beach Cusps, St. Joseph Peninsula (Lee D. Entsminger Thesis).

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Geology Department, Forida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -85.4153
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -85.412
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.8028
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.7941

  3. What does it look like?

    Entsminger1978.jpg
    Image showing geographic extent of data layer coverage

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Calendar_Date: 1978
    Currentness_Reference: publication date

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Entity point (20)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0000. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0000. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.400000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.978698.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Please review the cross reference information for the original data set credit to Entsminger (1978), and Chris Jenkins for digitizing samples locations and entering the data from the source report.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Chris Jenkins
    Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (INSTAAR) University of Colorado at Boulder
    1560 30th Street
    Boulder, CO 80309-0450
    USA

    (303) 492-6387 (voice)
    (303) 492-6388 (FAX)
    chris.jenkins@colorado.edu

Why was the data set created?

The purpose of this data layer is to create a digital version of the sedimentary characteristics published by Entsminger (1978) for inclusion in the usSEABED data collection.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    (process 1 of 1)
    Digital data were hand formatted into dbSEABED data entry structure, then filtered and data-mined through dbSEABED software (version: db9_MNEx.bas)

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Chris Jenkins
    Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (INSTAAR) University of Colorado at Boulder
    1560 30th Street
    Boulder, CO 80309-0450
    USA

    (303) 492-6387 (voice)
    (303) 492-6388 (FAX)

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

    Entsminger, Lee D. , 1978, Beach Pads & Beach Cusps, St. Joseph Peninsula: Forida State University, Tallahassee, Forida.

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    All attributes were entered and checked in a consistent manner.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigational accuracy is unknown.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Sedimentary descriptions and locations are provided for 20 samples.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    No additional check for topological consistency were performed on this data.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
None except that acknowledgement must be made in publications and reports of (i) the original data source, and (ii) the data integration by USGS and dbSEABED project at the University of Colorado.

  1. Who distributes the data set?[Distributor contact information not provided.]

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Entsminger, 1978

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although this data set has been used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data or related materials. Trade, firm, or product names and other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, USDOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 22-Mar-2006
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Brian J. Buczkowski
Core Curator and Data Management Specialist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2361 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
bbuczkowski@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Metadata extensions used:

Generated by mp version 2.8.24 on Mon Mar 27 19:54:29 2006