Directions for Using the Shoreline Change Browser and Data

Note: You may want to print these directions so you can refer to them while using the Shoreline Change Browser. The browser also has additional directions.

• Type in a Transect Number or select a community from the dropdown list below the map.
• Using road maps, topographic maps, and/or aerial photographs, locate the site you are interested in on the screen.
• Click on the zoom tool and draw a box around the area of interest.
• Use the pan tool to move around the map. Select this tool from the tool bar and click on the map. The area displayed on the map will shift so that the point you clicked is in the center of the map.
• Continue zooming and panning until you can clearly see which transect(s) is closest to the site of interest.
• Click on the identify tool , and then click on the transect you are interested in, and the relevant statistical data for this transect will be displayed on the right side of your screen.
• You can print the maps from the shoreline change browser as follows: If you are using Internet Explorer, open Internet Explorer again (to create another Internet Explorer window), go to the Tools menu, then Internet Options, then the Advanced tab. Check "Print background colors and images" in the Printing section, then click "OK." Close the new window and then hit the print button in the original browser window. To print the whole image, go to the Layout tab and click "Landscape" and then click "print." If you are using Netscape, you will need to do a screen capture instead of using the Print button. Hit the Print Screen button on your keyboard, and then open a new document using a program such as Wordpad (comes with Windows) or Microsoft Word. From the edit menu, choose paste to paste a copy of the browser window into your document. You can then use the print tools in your word processing software to print the image.
• Based on the data for the selected transect, note the positional changes (+ denotes accretion and - denotes erosion) and the corresponding rates between each of the shoreline date(s) to determine the trends represented by each time period (e.g. constant accretion or erosion, alternating cycles of accretion or erosion, changes in the rates of accretion or erosion, etc.).
• To provide context, CZM strongly recommends that you take note of the patterns of shoreline change on either side of the transect(s) you are examining.
• With these numbers in mind, look at the colored shorelines on the map to identify any patterns of shoreline change in the area of interest. The magnitude and consistency (or variability) of change along the shoreline are important indicators of how dynamic the section of shoreline is, an important observation that should be considered when formulating conclusions about future shoreline positions.
• Consider any human alterations along the shoreline that may have affected sediment transport patterns in the section of interest (e.g., seawalls or other armor on the updrift coastal banks or other sediment sources, jetties at an inlet, groins along the shoreline, etc.).
• Consider the accuracy of the mapping methods and the potential error associated with them relative to the amount of change reflected in the data table(s).
• Remember that shoreline position measurements for various time periods can be used to derive quantitative estimates of the average rate of shoreline change. These rates can be used to further understanding of the magnitude and timing or shoreline change in a geologic or scientific context, as well as the evolution of coastal environments in response to wave and current processes. (Note: The information depicted on the maps and in the data tables does not reflect short-term erosion that occurs during storms.)
• This review will give you a good sense of how the shoreline of interest has behaved over time, and may provide an indication of future shoreline behavior. However, professional expertise is necessary when attempting to use these maps and data for planning purposes.