Environment and development
in coastal regions and in small islands
colbartn.gif (4535 octets)

COSALC coast and beach stability in the Lesser Antilles  

UNESCO

HURRICANE IMPACT ON BEACHES IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN ISLANDS 1989-1995

by Gillian Cambers, December, 1996


University of Puerto Rico
Sea Grant College Program

“God lifted one little finger
Hugo a giant hand
swiftly a cruel alchemy
paradise to wasted land”

                from “Visitation” by Howard A. Fergus
Acknowledgements
1 Executive Summary
2 Introduction
3 Background
3.1 Beach Changes
3.2 Coast and Beach Stability in the Lesser Antilles (COSALC) Project
4 The 1995 Hurricane Season
5 Methodology
6 Effects of Hurricane Hugo on the Beaches of Dominica, Nevis and the British Virgin Islands
6.1 Dominica
6.2 Nevis
6.3 British Virgin Islands
6.4 Comparative Assessment of the Effects of the 1989 Hurricanes
7 Effects of the 1995 Hurricanes on the Islands from Anguilla to Dominica
7.1 Anguilla
7.2 Antigua-Barbuda
7.3 Nevis
7.4 St. Kitts
7.5 Montserrat
7.6 Dominica
7.7 Comparative Assessment of the Effects of the 1995 Storms
8 Discussion
9 Summary
10 Recommendations
11 Conclusion
References
Appendix I Dominica Beach Data 1989 and 1990
Appendix II Nevis Beach Data 1989 and 1990
Appendix III British Virgin Islands Beach Data 1989
Appendix IV Anguilla Beach Data 1995 and 1996
Appendix V Antigua-Barbuda Beach Data 1995 and 1996
Appendix VI Nevis Beach Data 1995 and 1996
Appendix VII St. Kitts Beach Data 1995 and 1996
Appendix VIII  Montserrat Beach Data 1995 and 1996
Appendix IX Dominica Beach Data 1995 and 1996
   
Tables
1

Logistics Relating to the Beach Monitoring Programmes in Each Island
2 Effects of Hurricanes Gabrielle and Hugo on Beaches in Dominica in 1989
3 Beach Recovery in Dominica after Hurricanes Gabrielle and Hugo
4 Effects of Hurricane Hugo on Beaches in Nevis in 1989
5 Beach Recovery in Nevis after Hurricane Hugo
6 Effects of Hurricanes Gabrielle and Hugo on the Beaches of the British Virgin Islands in 1989
7 Effects of Hurricane Luis on Beaches in Anguilla in 1995
8 Beach Recovery in Anguilla after Hurricane Luis
9 Effects of Hurricane Luis on Beaches in Antigua-Barbuda in 1995
10 Beach Recovery in Antigua after Hurricane Luis
11 Effects of Hurricane Luis on Beaches in Nevis in 1995
12 Beach Recovery in Nevis after Hurricane Luis
13 Effects of Hurricane Luis on Beaches in St. Kitts in 1995
14

Beach Recovery in St. Kitts (Peninsula Sites only) after Hurricane Luis
15 Effects of Hurricane Luis on Beaches in Montserrat in 1995
16 Beach Recovery in Montserrat after Hurricane Luis
17 Effects of the 1995 Storms on Beaches in Dominica in 1995
18 Beach Recovery in Dominica after the 1995 Storms
19 Beach and Dune Changes and Proximity to the Centre of Hurricane Luis
20 Average Beach Recovery Rates
  
Figures
1 Typical Beach Cross Section
2 Diagram of Beach Changes Before and After a Storm
3 Tracks of the 1995 Storms Affecting the Eastern Caribbean Islands
4 Beach Profile Parameters
5 Track of Hurricane Hugo in 1989
6 Comparative Impacts of Hurricane Hugo in 1989
7 Beach Recovery from Hurricane Hugo in Dominica and Nevis
8 Beach Profiles at Meads Bay, Anguilla, Before and After Hurricane Luis
9 Beach Profiles at Cocoa Point, Barbuda Before and After Hurricane Luis
10 Beach Profiles at Runaway Beach Hotel, Antigua, Before and One Year After Hurricane Luis
11 Beach Profiles at Pinneys Beach Cotton Ground, Nevis, in 1989 and 1996
12 Beach Profiles at Banana Bay, St. Kitts, Before and After Hurricane Luis
13 Beach Profiles at Sturge Park North (Montserrat Springs Hotel) Before and After Hurricane Luis
14 Beach Profiles at Coconut Beach, Dominica, Before and After the 1995 Hurricanes
15 Relationship Between Profile Area Change and Proximity to Hurricane Centre (Hurricane Luis 1995)
16 Relationship Between Coastline Retreat and Proximity to Hurricane Centre (Hurricane Luis 1995)
17 Average Beach Recovery in Dominica Following Hurricane Hugo Northwest Coast Beaches - Coconut Beach to Toucarie 1987-1991
18 Beach Profile Changes at Nevis, Pinneys Beach Cotton Ground; 1989-1996
  
Photographs
1 Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla, October 1995
2 Barnes Bay, Anguilla, September, 1994
3 Barnes Bay, Anguilla, October, 1995
4 Darkwood Beach, Antigua, July 1996
5 Beach Bar at Pinneys Beach, Golden Rock, Nevis, 1983
6 Beach Bar at Pinneys Beach, Golden Rock, Nevis, October 1995
7 South Friars Bay, St. Kitts, May 1996
8 Banana Bay, St. Kitts, May 1996
9 Sturge Park Beach, Montserrat, October, 1993
10 Coconut Beach, Dominica, 1987
11 Coconut Beach, Dominica, January 1996
  
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