January 13, 2004
14:37
WSPC/101-CEJ
00097
526
N. C. Kraus
Fig. 12. Breach at Moriches Inlet, New York, September 21, 1980. Photograph taken 9 months after
the January 1980 breach. Note east jetty became isolated from land because of the breach.
Fig. 12. Breach at Moriches Inlet, New York, 21 September 1980. Photograph taken 9
months after the January 1980 breach. Note east jetty became isolated from land because of
Table 1. Dimensions of 1980 breach at Moriches Inlet, New York (data from
Schheebteach.al., 1982, and Sorenson and Schmeltz, 1982).
tm lrz et
Date, 1980
Estimated
Breach Width,
Breach Depth from
Elapsed Time,
m
Assumed Elevation of
Days
Barrier Island Crest, m
15 January
0
30 (assumed here for x0)
1 (assumed here for z0)
16 January
1
90
3.6
20 January
5
215
4
"May"
90
885
7
observation), more than three times the width between the two jetties, and with a
depth of 3 m relative to mean low water (Sorensen and Schmeltz, 1982).
Table 1 compiles available information about the breach dimensions. For the
tabulation, it was assumed that the mean elevation of the barrier island was 3 m
above mean low water. This value was added to the depths of the breach reported
by Sorensen and Schmeltz (1982). In addition, an initial width of 30 m and initial
depth (local lowering in the barrier island)7of 1 m were assumed for application of
2
the breach morphology model. Based on additional photographic evidence, it was
concluded for this analysis that near-maximum width had been achieved sometime
before the May observation. This value was set in the model at 90 days elapsed
time after opening of the breach. Construction began in October 1980 to close the
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