Storm surges, Waves, Hydrodynamics and Vegetation Surveys in Deal Island, MD, USA (2018)

These datasets include measurements of hydrodynamic (currents and water levels) and wave conditions, vegetation bio-mechanic characteristics (biomass, stem height, diameter, and density), and topo-bathymetric features during the period of (2018) that were measured in the field during extreme events, regular tidal cycles, and over different seasons. This dataset provides the information for the campaigns in Deal Island, Maryland, USA. Hydrodynamic measurements were carried out with Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) (Aquadopp Nortek 2 MHz) and RBR D-wave sensors; vegetation surveys included the measurements of vegetation height, diameter and stem spacing using randomly placed 0.25 m2 quadrats on the ground surface. The sensors, topo-bathy data and vegetation measurement’s locations are georeferenced using a differential GPS Trimble R4. SAV measurements (when present) were carried out by using haphazardly placed 0.25m2 quadrats. At each site, the team measured 1) total SAV percent cover, 2) percent cover of each individual species, 3) canopy height, 4) epiphyte presence on SAV leaf blades, and 5) water depth. All the field procedures, data processing, equipment, and project methodology are described in the QAPP document.
This field work is part of the project “Quantifying storm surge attenuation by wetlands” funded by The Nature Conservancy. The project is a collaboration between George Mason University, The Nature Conservancy and The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).