Document Type
Data Set
Publication Date
2026
Department
Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping
Description or Abstract
The New Hampshire (NH) Volunteer Beach Profile Monitoring Program (VBPMP) is a joint project between the University of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, and community volunteers. The program originated in late 2016 with the overarching goal of developing a better understanding of the stability (i.e., erosion, accretion, and migration) of NH’s Atlantic coast beaches in response to storm events (waves, winds, and storm surges), seasonal changes in wave and weather conditions, and long-term changes (years) related to climate change and sea-level rise.
During the first year of the program, three field stations were established: one each at Wallis Sands, Jenness Beach, and Hampton Beach. The number of stations increased to thirteen in 2018, and three more were added between 2022-2023 to cover the major NH Atlantic beaches, including North Hampton Beach, Plaice Cove Beach, North Beach, and Seabrook Beach. This report provides the entire data set from the inception of the field program in December 2016 through December 2025. Data analysis includes conversion of relative beach elevation profiles measured in the field to known geographic datums including IGS08, NAVD88, and MLLW. Subsequently, shore-normal beach elevation profiles are developed and plotted for each profile, and sediment volume of the beach along the transects are calculated. From the beach profiles and the sediment volume determination, the overall mean elevation for that profile, as well as the upper, mid, and lower beach zones are calculated. Finally, the sediment volume and mean elevations are determined for extended time periods (up to eight years).
Access
Public (open access)
Recommended Citation
Ward, L.G., Morrison, R.C., Eberhardt, A.L., Costello, W.J., and Buzzell, S.G, 2026, New Hampshire Volunteer Beach Profile Monitoring Program (VBPMP) Data Report: Beach Profiles, Sediment Volume, and Mean Elevations (December 2016 - 2025). University of New Hampshire Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping Technical Series Report. UNH Scholars Repository.