Dataset: Beach Characteristics
Deployment: Dugan_UCSB_2015-2017

Physical characteristics of sandy beaches

Principal Investigator:

Jenifer E. Dugan (University of California-Santa Barbara, UCSB-MSI)

Co-Principal Investigator:

Robert Miller (University of California-Santa Barbara, UCSB-MSI)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Shannon Rauch (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Project:

Linking nearshore kelp forest dynamics to sandy beach ecosystems (Linking Kelp to Beaches)

Data URL:

https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset-deployment/815058/data

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Description

Physical characteristics of six Santa Barbara beaches quantified during surveys conducted from 2015-2017.

Methods & Sampling

Dataset acquisition description

We quantified physical characteristics of the six study beaches during each survey conducted from 2015-2017. Physical characteristics were recorded for each of six shore-normal transects of variable length that extended from the lower edge of terrestrial vegetation or the bluff to the lowest intertidal level exposed by swash at each location. The transects were randomly assigned to locations within the first 100 m of shoreline from the access point using a random number table and a distance measuring wheel. To characterize the beach, surf and swash zones we measured the beach width from lower edge of terrestrial vegetation or the bluff to the lowest intertidal level exposed by swash, recording locations of the water table outcrop (WTO) and high tide strand line (HTS) and beach slope at these two locations.

Data Processing Description

Dataset Processing Description

BCO-DMO Processing:
- replaced "N/A" with "nd" as missing data value;
- joined site coordinates to the data using Site Name as the key;
- replaced oct with October and nov with November for consistency in month field;
- added date field in yyyy-mm-dd format;
- replaced spaces with underscores in field names.

More information about this dataset deployment

Funding

Award Number	Funding Source
OCE-1458845	NSF Division of Ocean Sciences

Instruments

Measuring Tape

Supplied Name: distance measuring wheel

Supplied Description:

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Measuring Tape

Generic Description:

A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler. It consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fibre glass, or metal strip with linear-measurement markings. It is a common tool for measuring distance or length.

Parameters

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
Site_Name	Unique site name	unitless	site
Latitude	Latitude of the survey site; positive values = North	decimal degrees North	lat
Longitude	Longitude of the survey site; positive values = East	decimal degrees East	lon
Date	Date of survey; format: YYYY-MM-DD	unitless	date
Month	The month that the survey was done. Dates reflect measurements taken in local time. For sites in Alaska, local time is Alaska Standard Time except during months when Alaska Daylight time is effective. For all other Pacific Coast sites, local time is Pacific Standard Time except during months when Pacific Daylight Time is effective.	unitless	month
Day	Day of month of survey	unitless	day
Year	The year that the survey was done. This year is expressed in YYYY format. Dates reflect measurements taken in local time. For sites in Alaska, local time is Alaska Standard Time except during months when Alaska Daylight time is effective. For all other Pacific Coast sites, local time is Pacific Standard Time except during months when Pacific Daylight Time is effective.	unitless	year
Transect	A letter representing one of 6 shore normal transects (A-F) within the study beach. The transect letter is determined by the order from the beach access point.	unitless	transect
HTS	A number representing distance (meters) from back beach limit to the 24-hour high tide strand line	meters (m)	site_descrip
HTS_Slope	A number representing slope (degrees) of beach at the 24-hour high tide strand line	degrees	site_descrip
WTO	A number representing distance (meters) from back beach limit to the water table outcrop	meters (m)	site_descrip
WTO_Slope	A number representing slope (degrees) of beach at the water table outcrop	degrees	site_descrip

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: Beach Characteristics
Deployment: Dugan_UCSB_2015-2017

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: Beach CharacteristicsDeployment: Dugan_UCSB_2015-2017

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Dataset: Beach Characteristics
Deployment: Dugan_UCSB_2015-2017