10 pulled from Gulf Friday (Apr 10)

[Bobby J]

People were discussing whether or not recent hurricanes had changed the geography of the beaches/ocean floor and if that could be the reason why we see more incidents.

I think it's more of a change in attitudes than geography based on my observations.

Geography may have caused a slight change in severity, but that's moot if you are responsible and respectful of the conditions. A stronger current doesn't make a difference if you aren't in the water.

People have been swimming in the gulf for a long time. We never had these problems years ago yet people still got in the water.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Here's the boring scientific explanation.

In Walton County, the "geology" (not "geography") has been altered since the impacts of Opal and ongoing storms as Shelly said. Actually, the more accurate word would be more along the lines of coastal geomorphology since these are fairly recent changes. Typically, when a storm hits, all three parts of a beach are impacted, the beach, the dunes, and the offshore sand bars. What is most readily observed is the loss of beach width; reduction in dune size or height depending on the size of the storm; and less noticeable is the reduction in offshore sand bar height and scour holes leading to increased water depth offshore.

In times of recovery, the system recovers in the following order, first beach width recovers leading to wide beaches with very low elevation. Then as the beach builds in width, the sand on the back part of the beach begins to dry out and over time will be blown into the dunes. At the same time, more sand is slowly brought back in by the waves along the beach front so that more beach and dune recovery can occur. Unfortunately, the longest recovery time is for the offshore bar systems and the overall underwater system. That is because this is the area where less sand is actually moving around to fill in some of the places that have been scoured out due to storms.

So, this is why we see a number of rip channels where rip surrents can be established, they are low spots in the offshore bar system and scoured areas in the nearshore areas. I would also think another reason why you hear of more actual rescues is because of more people and better reporting.
I hope this helps.

 

[Bobby J]

I was thinking the more people theory as well. Great post. With that said, maybe people could be educated about the change. Often times while surfing people will swim out and I will warn them to be careful. The response is often, "we have been doing this for a long time!" Basically, mind your own business. Of course when they get in trouble guess who they call for help!

 

[beachma]

Here's the boring scientific explanation.

In Walton County, the "geology" (not "geography") has been altered since the impacts of Opal and ongoing storms as Shelly said. Actually, the more accurate word would be more along the lines of coastal geomorphology since these are fairly recent changes. Typically, when a storm hits, all three parts of a beach are impacted, the beach, the dunes, and the offshore sand bars. What is most readily observed is the loss of beach width; reduction in dune size or height depending on the size of the storm; and less noticeable is the reduction in offshore sand bar height and scour holes leading to increased water depth offshore.

In times of recovery, the system recovers in the following order, first beach width recovers leading to wide beaches with very low elevation. Then as the beach builds in width, the sand on the back part of the beach begins to dry out and over time will be blown into the dunes. At the same time, more sand is slowly brought back in by the waves along the beach front so that more beach and dune recovery can occur. Unfortunately, the longest recovery time is for the offshore bar systems and the overall underwater system. That is because this is the area where less sand is actually moving around to fill in some of the places that have been scoured out due to storms.

So, this is why we see a number of rip channels where rip surrents can be established, they are low spots in the offshore bar system and scoured areas in the nearshore areas. I would also think another reason why you hear of more actual rescues is because of more people and better reporting.
I hope this helps.

Very interesting. When I first began reading this thread my initial thoughts were simply that the rescues/drownings seem more frequent because of the increase in tourism to the area in the last 20 + yeas. "Visitors" for the most part don't have the respect of the ocean simply because of lack of knowledge and experience.
We first discovered the Seagrove Beach area in 1991 and it has become our annual family vacation destination every summer since. I'll never forget our amazement at the changes to the beaches the summer we returned after Opal. Being from the midwest we had no concept of what geographic changes actually take place as a result of a hurricane. Obviously, tornados take down structures, trees etc., but don't leave a lasting impact on the landscape.
Thanks for the geology lesson! Just curious if there was the same sort of impact to the offshore bar system and and underwater system after Ivan and Dennis? Being able to follow the impact those two storms had on the dunes online was incredible!