Hurricane Beryl causes significant erosion on Texas coast

Geologists from the University of Houston have published a study showing significant erosion and shoreline retreat along the Texas coast due to Hurricane Beryl. The hurricane, classified as category one, struck this summer and caused noticeable transformations in several coastal areas.

Using high-resolution, drone-based lidar data gathered in May and July, Professor Shuhab Khan from the UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics led the research team. "Our data captured the severe impact of Hurricane Beryl on several Texas beaches and dune systems. The visual comparisons between our May and July data are striking and show just how drastically these landscapes changed in a matter of months," stated Prof. Shuhab Khan.

The research was funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration alongside the Texas General Land Office. It focused on changes observed at Galveston, Follett's Island, Matagorda, Mustang Island, North Padre Island, and Sargent Island—the area where Beryl made landfall.

"Sargent Island experienced the most significant impact and is unrecognizable," said Khan. "The flooding, overwash, and scarping caused by Beryl wiped out nearly all the dunes and left the area virtually inaccessible." Follett's Island also suffered greatly; “Follett's had a restored dune system, but most of the sand was scraped away leaving behind bare hay bales,” Khan noted.

This study echoes previous findings by Khan’s team regarding Hurricane Harvey in 2017. They reported similar but more severe coastal changes with an average shoreline retreat exceeding 16 meters after Harvey.

The team's ongoing research aims to inform future mitigation strategies for coastal erosion. "Our ongoing research demonstrates that restored dunes along the Texas coast are vulnerable to major storms," explained Khan. "It emphasizes the need for adaptive, proactive dune management and regular monitoring to assess the durability of these restoration efforts."

As natural threats continue to challenge Texas' coastline, Khan hopes their work will underscore the importance of innovative solutions to safeguard vulnerable dunes, wildlife habitats, and communities. “The data we collect helps us quantify erosion, track recovery progress and improve predictive models for storm damage,” he added. Efforts like dune restoration remain crucial but highlight areas still highly susceptible to storm impacts.