Quantifying shoreline change in New Jersey: Patterns, Drivers, and implications

Jun Cheng

College: Hennings College of Science Mathematics and Technology

Department: Environ & Sustainability Sci

Abstract:

Ortley Beach, New Jersey, received beach nourishment in spring 2025 as part of shore protection efforts. Post-nourishment monitoring using monthly RTK-GPS beach profiles revealed rapid sediment loss at an erosional hotspot, with approximately 80% of placed beach volume and 75% of shoreline eroded within the first ten months. The most severe erosion occurred during Hurricane Erin (August 2025) and two strong Nor’easters in fall 2025. Statistical analysis and machine learning approaches were applied to link incident wave energy with observed beach changes, providing insight into sediment dynamics and the influence of engineered structures on beach morphology.In late January 2026, a major snowfall along the New Jersey coast was followed two weeks later by a Nor’easter, resulting in overwash deposits atop snow-covered beaches. Field observations—including beach profiling and trenching at pre-snow, post-overwash, and post-snowmelt stages—showed that steep, erosive beaches experienced limited overwash penetration, whereas gently sloping, stable beaches exhibited extensive landward overwash and ice accumulation in troughs in front of foredunes. Snow layers acted as natural tracers, revealing subtle overwash patterns that would otherwise be difficult to reconstruct.These observations highlight the value of combining post-nourishment monitoring, cold-season overwash documentation, and data-driven modeling to improve understanding of beach response under variable storm and wave conditions. The results provide guidance for effective coastal management and the design of adaptive shoreline protection strategies.