Hurricane Ike Erosion
Based on the difference between the lidar surveys of 2006 and 2009, I estimate that Ike eroded 3.5 million cubic yards of sand from the beach and dunes of Follets Island, reducing the average elevation of the island by 1 ft (to 4.4 ft). Most of this sand was washed out to sea. It would take a dump truck, driving by every 15 minutes, 10 years to transport this amount of sand.
Aerial photo source: TNRIS; Lidar Source NOAA
Based on the difference between the lidar surveys of 2006 and 2009, I estimate that Ike eroded 3.5 million cubic yards of sand from the beach and dunes of Follets Island, reducing the average elevation of the island by 1 ft (to 4.4 ft). Most of this sand was washed out to sea. It would take a dump truck, driving by every 15 minutes, 10 years to transport this amount of sand.
Aerial photo source: TNRIS; Lidar Source NOAA