Coastal Studies by Sequential Air Photography

Abstract

With the advent of air photography, many problems of mapping coast lines, such as those caused by surf action and underwater obstructions, were solved, as the vertical air photo shows the exact configuration of the coast and reveals many of the shallow-water obstructions. This paper shows that aerial photographs, obtained at intervals ranging from 2 to 20 years, contain important information on long-term coastal changes, brought about by wave and current action over a period of time. Two examples of such changes, revealed by sequential aerial photography, are given. It is concluded that a program of systematic study of existing photographs and supplementary rephotography would more than justify its cost.