{"id":1023,"date":"2016-01-14T20:46:33","date_gmt":"2016-01-15T04:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geooce.mlml.calstate.edu\/?p=1023"},"modified":"2018-04-03T14:18:06","modified_gmt":"2018-04-03T21:18:06","slug":"learning-from-the-2016-el-nino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2016\/01\/14\/learning-from-the-2016-el-nino\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning from the 2016 El Ni\u00f1o"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-1023\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-1023-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1023-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1023-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>CSU's Council on Ocean Affairs, Science &amp; Technology (COAST) \u00a0has recently awarded Dr. Aiello\u00a0with a 'rapid response'\u00a0grant\u00a0 to study changes in\u00a0beach morphology and sand budgets in Monterey Bay during\u00a0the storm activity associated with the 2015 EL Ni\u00f1o.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1023-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1023-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_archives widget_archive panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Archives<\/h3>\t\t<label class=\"screen-reader-text\" for=\"archives-dropdown-2\">Archives<\/label>\n\t\t<select id=\"archives-dropdown-2\" name=\"archive-dropdown\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<option value=\"\">Select Month<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2025\/12\/'> December 2025 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2025\/11\/'> November 2025 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2017\/07\/'> July 2017 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2016\/12\/'> December 2016 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2016\/11\/'> November 2016 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2016\/10\/'> October 2016 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2016\/09\/'> September 2016 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2016\/01\/'> January 2016 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2015\/09\/'> September 2015 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2014\/11\/'> November 2014 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2012\/12\/'> December 2012 <\/option>\n\t<option value='https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/2011\/10\/'> October 2011 <\/option>\n\n\t\t<\/select>\n\n\t\t\t<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\n( ( dropdownId ) => {\n\tconst dropdown = document.getElementById( dropdownId );\n\tfunction onSelectChange() {\n\t\tsetTimeout( () => {\n\t\t\tif ( 'escape' === dropdown.dataset.lastkey ) {\n\t\t\t\treturn;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\tif ( dropdown.value ) {\n\t\t\t\tdocument.location.href = dropdown.value;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}, 250 );\n\t}\n\tfunction onKeyUp( event ) {\n\t\tif ( 'Escape' === event.key ) {\n\t\t\tdropdown.dataset.lastkey = 'escape';\n\t\t} else {\n\t\t\tdelete dropdown.dataset.lastkey;\n\t\t}\n\t}\n\tfunction onClick() {\n\t\tdelete dropdown.dataset.lastkey;\n\t}\n\tdropdown.addEventListener( 'keyup', onKeyUp );\n\tdropdown.addEventListener( 'click', onClick );\n\tdropdown.addEventListener( 'change', onSelectChange );\n})( \"archives-dropdown-2\" );\n\n\/\/# sourceURL=WP_Widget_Archives%3A%3Awidget\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1023-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1023-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1023-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-1023\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2016\/01\/IMG_3811-300x225.jpg\"\n\t\t\tdata-lightbox=\"IMG_3811-300&#215;225\" data-title=\"IMG_3811-300&#215;225\" \t\t>\n\t\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2016\/01\/IMG_3811-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" title=\"IMG_3811-300&#215;225\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1023-1-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1023-1-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>In Monterey Bay, as well as along the whole\u00a0west coast of the US, large storm events are the primary controlling factor over beach dynamics, and high-energy conditions are particularly intense during El Ni\u00f1o years. Large\u00a0storms associated with\u00a0EL Ni\u00f1o have dramatic effects on the coastal environments: they increase the sediment yield from\u00a0rivers and accelerate the\u00a0erosion of seacliffs and coastal dunes. Storm activity also produces along-shore currents that can move large volumes of\u00a0sand parallel to the coastline (littoral transport, often referred to as a 'river of sand').<\/p>\n<p>If along its way, the 'river of sand' is\u00a0intercepted\u00a0by obstacles like the head of a submarine canyon or a promontory, the sand can\u00a0be deflected offshore and permanently transferred\u00a0from the coastal environment to the deep seafloor where it is\u00a0lost forever.\u00a0This loss might affect the resilience of beach sediments which act as a primary coastal buffer to prevent or delay seacliff and beach erosion, some of the most compelling problems affecting California\u2019s coastal environments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1023-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1023-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1023-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Geologists call a\u00a0portion of coastline that includes a source\u00a0for sand (for instance a river's mouth), and a sink (for instance the head of a submarine canyon) a littoral cell.<\/p>\n<p>The main sink for sand in the Monterey Bay is the head of the Monterey Canyon (C) which dissects the continental shelf and comes very close to shore right in front of Moss Landing Marine Lab. The segment of the beach between the mouth of the Salinas River (A), and Elkhorn Slough (B) is\u00a0a small littoral cell (or sub-cell) which we call the Salinas sub-cell.<\/p>\n<p>There are many littoral cells like the Salinas sub-cell along the California coastline: during 'normal' winter storm conditions the sand moves alongshore\u00a0relatively\u00a0slowly and not much sediment is lost from the littoral system. However, during El Ni\u00f1o condition sand circulation in the littoral cells occurs\u00a0much faster. Not only is the\u00a0'river of sand' carrying larger volumes of sand but it can also\u00a0flow\u00a0in directions different from normal winter conditions because the swell, which typically comes from the northwest, is now coming from the west and the southwest.<\/p>\n<p>Future predictions of raising sea level conditions combined with more frequent and larger storms and El Ni\u00f1o events require a better, more quantitative approach to understand sediment dynamics in littoral cells in relation to oceanography. Understanding sediment budgets in littoral cells during high-energy events and storm-dominated seasons provides essential planning tools for regional and coastal management.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1023-2-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1023-2-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-1023\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2016\/01\/1.png\"\n\t\t\tdata-lightbox=\"Salinas sub-cell.\" data-title=\"Salinas sub-cell.\" \t\t>\n\t\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2016\/01\/1.png\" width=\"518\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2016\/01\/1.png 518w, https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2016\/01\/1-300x239.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px\" title=\"Salinas sub-cell.\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1023-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1023-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1023-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"6\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-1023\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2017\/07\/P1010009-1024x768.jpg\"\n\t\t\tdata-lightbox=\"Trimble VX Spatial Station.\" data-title=\"Trimble VX Spatial Station.\" \t\t>\n\t\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2017\/07\/P1010009-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2017\/07\/P1010009-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2017\/07\/P1010009-1024x768-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2017\/07\/P1010009-1024x768-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" title=\"Trimble VX Spatial Station.\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1023-3-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1023-3-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"7\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>To monitor changes in sand volume along the beaches of the Salinas sub-cell Dr. Aiello's Lab is using some of the most advanced mapping tools available in coastal geomorphologic studies. In early Fall 2015, before the beginning of the storm activity associated with the 2016 El Ni\u00f1o, we were able to coordinate a demonstration survey of the sub-cell's coastline using an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) equipped with a very-high-resolution camera. Based on ground controls these images can be post-processed to produce high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) of the terrain as shown in the digital rendering of the Moss Landing Marine Lab building and surrounding property.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1023-4\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1023-4-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1023-4-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Our strategy is to combine the DEM baseline with 'ad hoc' high-resolution surveys of specific sections of the beach (the red, numbered lines in the first figure) before and after major storm events using a field-based survey equipment called a Terrestrial Laser Scanner or TLS. The TLS is a powerful, portable instrument for surveying rapidly and very accurately beaches, dunes, and many other coastal habitats including estuaries and the rocky intertidal.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of this study we hope to gain a better, more quantitative understanding of the fate of beach sediments during El Ni\u00f1o conditions in Monterey Bay. What we can learn in the Monterey Bay can be also translated to other littoral cells in California and can be used to improve our ability to predict and possibly mitigate the effects of future climate and sea level changes.<\/p>\n<p>If you have any questions feel free to contact Dr. Aiello.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for reading!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CSU&#8217;s Council on Ocean Affairs, Science &amp; Technology (COAST) \u00a0has recently awarded Dr. Aiello\u00a0with a &#8216;rapid response&#8217;\u00a0grant\u00a0 to study changes in\u00a0beach morphology and sand budgets in Monterey Bay during\u00a0the storm activity associated with the 2015 EL Ni\u00f1o. In Monterey Bay, as well as along the whole\u00a0west coast of the US, large storm events are the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":1301,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Geological Oceanography Lab","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1023"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1311,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1023\/revisions\/1311"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/geooce\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}