CPE - North Topsail Beach

North Topsail Beach
Phase I

Nearshore Sidescan Survey

Update of Dec 7th, 2004: CPE completed nearshore seabed mapping (sidescan sonar investigations) along North Topsail Beach.

Researches from Coastal Planning and Engineering Inc. completed a nearshore seabed mapping survey using an Edgetech DF1000 SSS (SideScan Sonar) before Thanksgiving (Nov 17th -19th 2004) aboard of the M/V RESOLUTION, a 26’ Privateer. Sea conditions were less than 2 feet during all three days of field operation and the resulting SSS images are of excellent quality. Post-processing of SSS images is currently being conducted and a full geo-referenced tiff (geo-tiff) mosaic of the seabed along the survey area will be complete within the next few weeks.

After analysis of the historical data, which included historical vibracores taken by UNC-W and the USACE, a seismic survey conducted by the USACE and several sidescan sonar surveys conducted by UNC-W, CPE researchers prepared a plan to verify potential sand resource targets using jet probes. CPE researchers will travel to the project area a day before the forecast calls for several days of acceptable sea conditions to conduct 3 days of jet probing. The current NOAA and U.S. Navy weather forecast calls for a possible period of favorable sea conditions after December 16th.

SSS tracklines run, and sample nearshore seismic images can be visualized by clicking on the thumbnails below.

Tracklines Surveyed

Nearshore Sidescan Sample Images

GIS image of borrow area location (click to enlarge)

Project Background

CPE Researches Scheduled to begin the North Topsail Beach Jet Probe Investigations

Click on the image to enlarge

CPE researchers are scheduled to leave the CPE Boca Raton office (FL); to conduct jet probes offshore North Topsail Beach (NC) on Wednesday, December 15. The team will obtain a series of jet probes in selected target areas in order to verify quantity and quality of potential sand resources offshore North Topsail Beach. The jet probe data collected will also be used to “ground-truth” seismic data that is scheduled to be collected during mid-January geophysical surveys. For this jet probe investigation the researchers will conduct three days of diving to obtain 12 primary jet probes and up to 20 secondary probes as shown in the map below. Daily updates and photographs of the field activities will be available through this web site.

Field Update

CPE recently concluded offshore jet probes offshore North Topsail beach. A summary of the jet probe field activities and field photographs is shown below. For a map showing location of Jet Probes please click on the map thumbnail.

On Wednesday, December 15, the CPE Coastal Geology and Geomatics team from Boca Raton arrived in North Topsail beach around 7:30 p.m. On Thursday morning, the crew mobilized the vessel and headed offshore by 11:30 a.m. The team completed six jet probes on the first day of operations and was headed back to the dock by 4:30 p.m. When entering the inlet, the vessel bottomed out on the shoal and jarred one of its propellers loose. Unfortunately, it was too late in the day to remedy the situation and the crew had to wait until morning.

On Friday morning, the crew was able to locate some replacement parts; however, due to the jarring of the motor the repairs could not be made in a timely fashion. Fortunately, the CPE team was able to find a replacement boat to charter on short notice. After demobilizing their boat and remobilizing the chartered boat, the crew got underway by 12:30 p.m. The crew was able to complete four jet probes on the second day of operations.

On Saturday morning, the CPE team was underway on the chartered boat by 9:00 a.m. The team was able to complete four more jet probes on the third day of operations.

A total of fourteen jet probes were taken during the course of the investigation. The data and observations collected during the jet probing will help select the best locations for the geophysical survey, which will be run next month in January 2005. The data will also be used in “ground truthing” the seismic reflection profile data that will be collected during the geophysical survey.

Click to enlarge:

The survey boat

CPE diver Ken Willson prepared to get in the water armed with a dry suit

CPE Diver

Sample of Jet Probe Sand

Sample of Beach Sand

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2481 N. W. Boca Raton Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33431

(561) 391.8102

(561) 391.9116

email@coastalplanning.net

	North Topsail Beach Phase I
	Go to Phase II
	Nearshore Sidescan Survey Project Background Field Update and Pictures Seismic
	Nearshore Sidescan Survey Update of Dec 7th, 2004: CPE completed nearshore seabed mapping (sidescan sonar investigations) along North Topsail Beach. Researches from Coastal Planning and Engineering Inc. completed a nearshore seabed mapping survey using an Edgetech DF1000 SSS (SideScan Sonar) before Thanksgiving (Nov 17th -19th 2004) aboard of the M/V RESOLUTION, a 26’ Privateer. Sea conditions were less than 2 feet during all three days of field operation and the resulting SSS images are of excellent quality. Post-processing of SSS images is currently being conducted and a full geo-referenced tiff (geo-tiff) mosaic of the seabed along the survey area will be complete within the next few weeks. After analysis of the historical data, which included historical vibracores taken by UNC-W and the USACE, a seismic survey conducted by the USACE and several sidescan sonar surveys conducted by UNC-W, CPE researchers prepared a plan to verify potential sand resource targets using jet probes. CPE researchers will travel to the project area a day before the forecast calls for several days of acceptable sea conditions to conduct 3 days of jet probing. The current NOAA and U.S. Navy weather forecast calls for a possible period of favorable sea conditions after December 16th. SSS tracklines run, and sample nearshore seismic images can be visualized by clicking on the thumbnails below. Tracklines Surveyed Nearshore Sidescan Sample Images GIS image of borrow area location (click to enlarge) Top
	Project Background CPE Researches Scheduled to begin the North Topsail Beach Jet Probe Investigations Click on the image to enlarge CPE researchers are scheduled to leave the CPE Boca Raton office (FL); to conduct jet probes offshore North Topsail Beach (NC) on Wednesday, December 15. The team will obtain a series of jet probes in selected target areas in order to verify quantity and quality of potential sand resources offshore North Topsail Beach. The jet probe data collected will also be used to “ground-truth” seismic data that is scheduled to be collected during mid-January geophysical surveys. For this jet probe investigation the researchers will conduct three days of diving to obtain 12 primary jet probes and up to 20 secondary probes as shown in the map below. Daily updates and photographs of the field activities will be available through this web site. Top
	Field Update CPE recently concluded offshore jet probes offshore North Topsail beach. A summary of the jet probe field activities and field photographs is shown below. For a map showing location of Jet Probes please click on the map thumbnail. On Wednesday, December 15, the CPE Coastal Geology and Geomatics team from Boca Raton arrived in North Topsail beach around 7:30 p.m. On Thursday morning, the crew mobilized the vessel and headed offshore by 11:30 a.m. The team completed six jet probes on the first day of operations and was headed back to the dock by 4:30 p.m. When entering the inlet, the vessel bottomed out on the shoal and jarred one of its propellers loose. Unfortunately, it was too late in the day to remedy the situation and the crew had to wait until morning. On Friday morning, the crew was able to locate some replacement parts; however, due to the jarring of the motor the repairs could not be made in a timely fashion. Fortunately, the CPE team was able to find a replacement boat to charter on short notice. After demobilizing their boat and remobilizing the chartered boat, the crew got underway by 12:30 p.m. The crew was able to complete four jet probes on the second day of operations. On Saturday morning, the CPE team was underway on the chartered boat by 9:00 a.m. The team was able to complete four more jet probes on the third day of operations. A total of fourteen jet probes were taken during the course of the investigation. The data and observations collected during the jet probing will help select the best locations for the geophysical survey, which will be run next month in January 2005. The data will also be used in “ground truthing” the seismic reflection profile data that will be collected during the geophysical survey. Click to enlarge: The survey boat CPE diver Ken Willson prepared to get in the water armed with a dry suit CPE Diver CPE Diver CPE Diver Sample of Jet Probe Sand Sample of Beach Sand Top
	Seismic Investigation Planning CPE is currently reevaluating the areas in and around PBA-B2 and PBA-B1 identified in the feasibility study as well as a potential site off the north end of North Topsail Beach. Seismic investigations will follow the jet probe survey and are likely to commence mid January 2005, aboard of the UNCW research vessel CAPE FEAR. Top