After the Storm

Sharon Nayokpuk writes:

Lost a lot of land and part of the dump road.

LEO says:

This observation has been added to two projects. Storm Watch 2017 - Event 02 is collecting observations of the impacts from a severe coastal storm occurring in November of 2017. This has also been added to the project Coastal Erosion, documenting observations of coastal erosion in western Alaska.

Shishmaref is one of the communities that has been impacted by a string of severe storms this winter. The summary for the event of November 10 - 13 provided by the State Emergency Operation Center, reads as follows: "On November 3, the SEOC was contacted by NWS warning of a series of large sea storms expected to impact first the Nome/Golovin area south to Unalakleet and Kotlik November 7 - 9. A much larger and stronger storm approached the Shishmaref, Kotzebue, and Kivalina areas beginning November 11. Prior to the storm, the SEOC contacted the Shishmaref mayor and council, VPSO, as well the Northwest Arctic Borough deputy public services director, Alaska State Troopers, ANTHC, DHSS, and Nome LEPC to advise them of the storm and the heightened potential for coastal flooding. After the second storm, on November 13, the SEOC learned the community of Shishmaref had reported damages to their dump road and coastal berms."

The observation provided by Sharon falls within the time frame of a second storm event although based on the description of the dump road, the impacts are likely cumulative. The summary for the second event of November 22 to 24 provided by the State Emergency Operation Center, reads as follows: "On November 20, the NWS began warning the SEOC that a strong storm would track through the eastern Bering Sea over the next few days. Ahead of this low, an associated cold front will cross the region, with strong northwesterly winds developing following frontal passage. Sustained winds of 50 to 65 mph, with higher gusts likely. Some uncertainty exists with the track and strength of the low and residents were urged to monitor the forecast for future updates. NWS specifically identified the coastal communities at most risk as Kivalina, Stebbins, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Kotlik, and Golovin; NWS also provided the SEOC with specific storm and flooding potential powerpoints for each of these six communities. On November 22, the SEOC reached out to NWAB, Kivalina, Deering, Shishmaref, Golovin, Stebbins, Diomede, Shaktoolik, Unalakleet, and Kotlik for updates on the storm. We also heard back from Savoonga and Gambell."

Resources:

Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys – This interactive tool enables access to beach elevation profile measurements collected throughout Alaska since the 1960s. Users can explore profile measurements collected by DGGS and others as time-series plots and location-based images of the shoreface environment. The map has been designed to accommodate datasets collected with differing techniques, including differential leveling, survey-grade GPS or extraction from lidar-derived digital elevation models. Source: Alaska Coastal Profile Tool (ACPT)

Effect of Erosion in Alaskan Coastal Villages – The disastrous consequences of global warming forecasted by scientists are now being seen in Alaska. Alaska’s 6,600-mile coastline has been subjected to decades of severe erosion. Alaska’s northern coastline is frozen-ice for most of the year. The ice season usually lasts from November to April on most of the Bering Sea coast, longer along the Chukchi Sea coast and still longer on the Beaufort Sea coast, where it usually lasts 9 to 10 months (Bronen, 2013). Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers & Auburn University. 2016.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District, Study Findings, and Technical Report reads, has conducted a Baseline Erosion Assessment (BEA) to coordinate, plan, and prioritize appropriate responses to erosion throughout Alaska. The study, begun in April 2005 and completed in March 2009, was specifically funded by the U.S. Congress. After conducting the study, the Corps prepared a technical report intended to help Federal, State, Tribal, and local stakeholders to develop strategies and plans for addressing erosion issues in Alaska. Source: Alaska Baseline Erosion Assessment. March 2009.