--> Abstract: Impact of Hurricane Hugo on the Coastal Resources of Puerto Rico, by W. C. Schwab, W. W. Danforth, C. M. Delorey, L. J. Poppe, R. W. Rodriguez, J. L. Trias, M. Carlo, B. R. Richmond, E. A. Shinn, R. B. Halley, E. R. Thieler, M. H. Gowen, and D. M. Bush; #90987 (1993).

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SCHWAB, W. C., W. W. DANFORTH, C. M. DELOREY, and L. J. POPPE, U. S. Geological Survey, Quissett Campus, Woods Hole, MA; * RAFAEL W. RODRIGUEZ, J. L. TRIAS, and M. CARLO, U.S. Geological Survey, San Juan, Puerto Rico; B. R. RICHMOND, U. S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA; E. A. SHINN and R. B. HALLEY, U. S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL; and E. R. THIELER, M. H. GOWEN, and D. M. BUSH, Duke University, Geology Department, Durham, NC

ABSTRACT: Impact of Hurricane Hugo on the Coastal Resources of Puerto Rico

Hurricane Hugo struck the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on September 18, 1989. Studies have assessed the effects of Hugo on: (1) shoreline

erosion and subsequent beach recovery in the San Juan metropolitan area; (2) a large offshore sand deposit off Vieques Island; (3) coral reefs around Culebra; and (4) the insular shelf off the town of Luquillo. Damage to beaches occurred due to elevated water levels through a combination of storm surge, wave setup, and wave swash. Post-Hugo changes to the beach profile have included a return to approximately pre-Hugo conditions in many areas, however, where engineering structures (groins, seawalls, etc.) extend too far seaward, beach recovery has been hindered. Analysis of seismic-reflection profiles, sediment cores, and grab samples collected over a 90-million-cubic-meter sand and gravel deposit off Vieques Island, southeast of Puerto Rico, show that less than 4 percent of the origin l volume was removed during Hugo. Reefs on the east and southeast (windward) side of Culebra Island, northeast of Puerto Rico, were devastated by Hugo, whereas only minor damage to reefs occurred along the west (lee) side. In spite of the devastation, the reefs show signs of healthy regrowth. On the northern insular shelf, off Luquillo, interpretation of sidescan-sonar images, seismic-reflection profiles, and bottom samples suggest a net cross-shelf transport of sediment. However, eolianite ridges which trend parallel to the shoreline act as dams, trapping sand removed from the shoreface on the middle shelf, and forming a sand deposit up to 20 m thick.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90987©1993 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25-28, 1993.