Scour_VV0 power_NN1 :_: big_JJ storms_NN2 shift_VV0 coastal_JJ erosion_NN1 into_II overdrive_NN1 When_CS Hurricane_NN1 Ike_NP1 struck_VVD the_AT Gulf_NP1 Coast_NN1 in_II the_AT early_JJ hours_NNT2 of_IO September_NPM1 13_MC ,_, 2008_MC ,_, Texas_NP1 '_GE Bolivar_NN1 Peninsula_NN1 was_VBDZ ground_JJ zero_NN1 ._. 
Before_CS the_AT category_NN1 2_MC storm_NN1 made_VVD landfall_NN1 ,_, large_JJ stretches_NN2 of_IO beachfront_NN1 on_II this_DD1 narrow_JJ ,_, low-lying_JJ spit_NN1 of_IO land_NN1 were_VBDR chockablock_NN1 with_IW homes_NN2 standing_VVG on_II stilts_NN2 behind_II dunes_NN2 up_RG21 to_RG22 2_MC meters_NN2 tall_JJ ._. 
But_CCB those_DD2 stilts_NN2 --_NN1 and_CC the_AT dunes_NN2 --_NN1 were_VBDR too_RG short_JJ :_: Most_DAT of_IO the_AT homes_NN2 that_CST did_VDD n't_XX get_VVI blown_VVN away_RL by_II Ike_NP1 's_GE 175-kilometer-per-hour_JJ winds_NN2 were_VBDR battered_VVN by_II waves_NN2 and_CC then_RT swept_VVD off_RP pilings_NN2 by_II a_AT1 5-meter-deep_JJ ,_, debris-filled_JJ storm_NN1 surge_NN1 ._. 
Terrain_NN1 was_VBDZ swept_VVN clean_JJ ,_, and_CC dunes_NN2 were_VBDR decapitated_VVN ._. 
Across_II some_DD stretches_NN2 of_IO shore_NN1 ,_, the_AT ocean_NN1 chewed_VVD inland_RL more_DAR than_CSN 50_MC meters_NN2 ,_, while_CS other_JJ sections_NN2 of_IO beach_NN1 actually_RR gained_VVN ground_NN1 as_CSA storm_NN1 water_NN1 draining_VVG from_II marshes_NN2 and_CC bays_NN2 carried_VVD sediment_NN1 toward_II the_AT sea_NN1 ,_, dropping_VVG the_AT material_NN1 at_II the_AT water_NN1 's_GE edge_NN1 ._. 
Such_DA resculpting_NN1 of_IO shorelines_NN2 by_II storms_NN2 has_VHZ become_VVN a_AT1 popular_JJ research_NN1 topic_NN1 lately_RR ,_, thanks_NN2 to_II the_AT availability_NN1 of_IO high-tech_JJ data_NN collection_NN1 equipment_NN1 ranging_VVG from_II sonar-equipped_JJ ships_NN2 to_II GPS-carrying_JJ all-terrain_JJ vehicles_NN2 and_CC small_JJ aircraft_NN with_IW laser_NN1 altimeters_NN2 ._. 
As_RG few_DA2 as_CSA a_AT1 dozen_NNO years_NNT2 ago_RA ,_, field_NN1 studies_NN2 assessing_VVG storm-induced_JJ shoreline_NN1 changes_NN2 required_VVN an_AT1 army_NN1 of_IO surveyors_NN2 and_CC hordes_NN2 of_IO graduate_NN1 students_NN2 ,_, says_VVZ Asbury_NP1 "_" Abby_NP1 "_" Sallenger_NP1 ,_, head_NN1 of_IO the_AT U.S._NP1 Geological_JJ Survey_NN1 's_GE storm_NN1 impacts_NN2 research_VV0 group_NN1 in_II St._NP1 Petersburg_NP1 ,_, Fla_NP1 ._. 
Today_RT ,_, a_AT1 single_JJ flight_NN1 can_VM collect_VVI high-resolution_JJ elevation_NN1 data_NN for_IF a_AT1 300-meter-wide_JJ swath_NN1 of_IO coast_NN1 stretching_VVG as_CS31 far_CS32 as_CS33 from_II New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 to_II Boston_NP1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 's_VBZ just_RR no_AT comparison_NN1 ,_, "_" Sallenger_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 do_VD0 n't_XX care_VVI how_RGQ many_DA2 grad_NN1 students_NN2 are_VBR out_RP there_RL ;_; you_PPY could_VM never_RR reproduce_VVI that_DD1 ._. "_" 
With_IW these_DD2 new_JJ ,_, broader_JJR surveys_NN2 ,_, scientists_NN2 are_VBR seeing_VVG better_JJR than_CSN ever_RR how_RGQ much_DA1 land_NN1 storms_NN2 chisel_VV0 from_II the_AT edges_NN2 of_IO continents_NN2 --_NN1 not_XX just_RR in_II populated_JJ areas_NN2 ,_, where_CS homes_NN2 and_CC infrastructure_NN1 are_VBR damaged_VVN or_CC demolished_VVD ,_, but_CCB in_II the_AT kinds_NN2 of_IO remote_JJ areas_NN2 that_CST previously_RR went_VVD unsurveyed_JJ after_II storms_NN2 ._. 
Along_II21 with_II22 improving_JJ damage_NN1 estimates_VVZ right_RR after_II a_AT1 major_JJ storm_NN1 strike_NN1 ,_, researchers_NN2 hope_VV0 to_TO do_VDI a_AT1 better_JJR job_NN1 of_IO predicting_VVG future_JJ shoreline_NN1 locations_NN2 and_CC assessing_VVG prospects_NN2 for_IF shore_NN1 recovery_NN1 after_II a_AT1 storm_NN1 ._. 
The_AT degree_NN1 of_IO earthmoving_JJ these_DD2 studies_NN2 are_VBR finding_VVG is_VBZ impressive_JJ ._. 
A_AT1 major_JJ storm_NN1 can_VM essentially_RR pick_VVI up_RP and_CC relocate_VVI entire_JJ barrier_NN1 islands_NN2 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 those_DD2 that_CST help_VV0 protect_VVI Atlantic_NP1 and_CC Gulf_NP1 coasts_NN2 ._. 
Yet_RR the_AT analytical_JJ models_NN2 that_CST coastal_JJ planners_NN2 use_VV0 to_TO estimate_VVI where_RRQ coasts_NN2 will_VM lie_VVI in_II the_AT future_NN1 rely_VV0 mainly_RR on_II gradual_JJ ,_, persistent_JJ rates_NN2 of_IO erosion_NN1 in_II the_AT past_NN1 ,_, not_XX the_AT effects_NN2 of_IO occasional_JJ large_JJ storms_NN2 ._. 
Those_DD2 transient_JJ effects_NN2 have_VH0 ,_, until_II recently_RR ,_, been_VBN hard_JJ to_TO estimate_VVI ,_, since_CS any_DD given_JJ location_NN1 is_VBZ rarely_RR hit_VVN by_II a_AT1 big_JJ storm_NN1 ._. 
Backwash_VV0 The_AT churning_NN1 of_IO sediments_NN2 beneath_II a_AT1 storm_NN1 has_VHZ always_RR been_VBN hard_JJ to_TO see_VVI ._. 
But_CCB by_II using_VVG shipboard_NN1 sonar_NN1 to_TO map_VVI the_AT underwater_JJ landscape_NN1 ,_, scientists_NN2 got_VVD an_AT1 in-depth_JJ view_NN1 of_IO massive_JJ movements_NN2 of_IO seafloor_NN1 material_NN1 by_II Hurricane_NN1 Ike_NP1 ._. 
Beneath_II a_AT1 storm_NN1 's_GE winds_NN2 ,_, rushing_VVG water_NN1 can_VM reshape_VVI the_AT underwater_JJ landscape_NN1 ,_, especially_RR when_CS a_AT1 storm_NN1 surge_NN1 blasts_VVZ onto_II land_NN1 and_CC then_RT recedes_VVZ across_II barrier_NN1 islands_NN2 or_CC through_II narrow_JJ inlets_NN2 ._. 
Besides_RR dramatically_RR rearranging_VVG features_NN2 in_II navigated_JJ areas_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 shipping_VVG lanes_NN2 ,_, storms_NN2 leave_VV0 clues_NN2 in_II the_AT sediments_NN2 that_CST can_VM help_VVI scientists_NN2 interpret_VVI ancient_JJ sediments_NN2 long_RR since_CS turned_VVN to_II stone_NN1 ._. 
When_CS Ike_NP1 's_GE eye_NN1 reached_VVD the_AT eastern_JJ end_NN1 of_IO Galveston_NP1 Island_NNL1 ,_, just_RR southwest_ND1 of_IO Bolivar_NP1 Peninsula_NN1 ,_, hurricane-force_NN1 winds_VVZ --_JJ those_DD2 measuring_VVG 119_MC km/hr_NNU or_CC greater_JJR --_NN1 covered_VVD a_AT1 180-kilometer-long_JJ stretch_NN1 of_IO coast_NN1 ._. 
West_ND1 of_IO the_AT eye_NN1 ,_, winds_NN2 blew_VVD away_II21 from_II22 land_NN1 and_CC water_NN1 was_VBDZ pushed_VVN offshore_RL ._. 
But_CCB east_ND1 of_IO the_AT eye_NN1 ,_, water_NN1 surged_VVD inland_RL across_II the_AT Bolivar_NN1 Peninsula_NN1 and_CC piled_VVD up_RP in_II Galveston_NP1 Bay_NN1 to_II heights_NN2 up_RG21 to_RG22 5_MC meters_NN2 ._. 
As_II the_AT storm_NN1 passed_VVN and_CC winds_NN2 abated_VVD ,_, that_DD1 water_NN1 returned_VVN to_II sea_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ John_NP1 A._NP1 Goff_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 marine_JJ geologist_NN1 at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Texas_NP1 at_II Austin_NP1 ._. 
As_CSA water_NN1 levels_NN2 in_II the_AT bay_NN1 dropped_VVD ,_, flow_NN1 was_VBDZ channeled_VVN through_II the_AT inlet_NN1 separating_JJ Bolivar_NN1 Peninsula_NN1 and_CC Galveston_NP1 Island_NNL1 ._. 
Buoys_NN2 marking_VVG the_AT shipping_NN1 channel_NN1 through_II the_AT inlet_NN1 ,_, the_AT main_JJ route_NN1 leading_VVG to_II and_CC from_II the_AT port_NN1 of_IO Houston_NP1 ,_, were_VBDR swept_VVN seaward_RL as_RG much_DA1 as_CSA 13_MC kilometers_NNU2 --_JJ quite_RG a_AT1 feat_NN1 considering_II the_AT buoys_NN2 '_GE anchors_NN2 weighed_VVD more_DAR than_CSN 5_MC metric_JJ tons_NNU2 each_DD1 ._. 
By_II comparing_VVG sonar_NN1 data_NN gathered_VVN in_II the_AT inlet_NN1 a_AT1 week_NNT1 and_CC a_AT1 half_NN1 after_II Ike_NP1 made_VVD landfall_NN1 with_IW data_NN gathered_VVD just_RR four_MC months_NNT2 earlier_RRR ,_, Goff_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE colleagues_NN2 could_VM readily_RR assess_VVI the_AT storm_NN1 's_GE erosive_JJ effects_NN2 ._. 
Before_CS the_AT hurricane_NN1 ,_, several_DA2 broad_JJ ,_, 3-meter-tall_JJ ridges_NN2 of_IO shells_NN2 and_CC loose_JJ gravel_NN1 ,_, sculpted_VVN by_II the_AT normal_JJ flow_NN1 of_IO tides_NN2 in_II and_CC out_II21 of_II22 the_AT inlet_NN1 ,_, stretched_VVN across_II the_AT inlet_NN1 's_GE floor_NN1 ,_, the_AT researchers_NN2 reported_VVN in_II the_AT April_NPM1 Geology_NN1 ._. 
Those_DD2 ridges_NN2 had_VHD been_VBN stable_JJ for_IF decades_NNT2 ,_, Goff_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
Flow_NN1 rushing_VVG through_II the_AT inlet_NN1 after_II the_AT storm_NN1 pushed_VVD the_AT ridges_NN2 seaward_RL 40_MC to_II 50_MC meters_NN2 and_CC scoured_VVD away_RL as_RG much_DA1 as_CSA two-thirds_MF of_IO the_AT ridges_NN2 '_GE height_NN1 ._. 
Data_NN gathered_VVN in_II May_NPM1 2010_MC ,_, more_RRR than_CSN a_AT1 year_NNT1 and_CC a_AT1 half_NN1 after_II the_AT hurricane_NN1 ,_, show_VV0 that_CST the_AT shells_NN2 and_CC gravel_NN1 are_VBR again_RT being_VBG pushed_VVN into_II heaps_NN2 ,_, but_CCB those_DD2 nascent_JJ ridges_NN2 are_VBR accumulating_VVG where_RRQ the_AT post-Ike_JJ remnants_NN2 were_VBDR dropped_VVN ,_, not_XX where_RRQ the_AT ridges_NN2 stood_VVD before_II the_AT storm_NN1 ._. 
Finer_JJR material_NN1 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 sand_NN1 and_CC silt_NN1 ,_, was_VBDZ probably_RR carried_VVN even_RR farther_RRR out_RP to_II sea_NN1 ,_, Goff_VV0 notes_NN2 ._. 
By_II analyzing_VVG sediment_NN1 samples_NN2 taken_VVN from_II the_AT seafloor_NN1 at_II varying_JJ distances_NN2 from_II the_AT Bolivar_NN1 Peninsula_NN1 ,_, the_AT researchers_NN2 were_VBDR able_JK to_TO estimate_VVI the_AT amount_NN1 of_IO material_NN1 stripped_VVN from_II shore_NN1 ._. 
The_AT team_NN1 estimates_VVZ that_CST fresh_JJ deposits_NN2 of_IO sand_NN1 and_CC mud_NN1 stretched_VVD up_RG21 to_RG22 15_MC kilometers_NNU2 offshore_RL ._. 
Goff_NN1 says_VVZ that_CST the_AT piles_NN2 include_VV0 about_RG 300,000_MC cubic_JJ meters_NN2 --_NN1 or_CC about_RG 37,500_MC large_JJ dump_NN1 truck_NN1 loads_NN2 --_NN1 of_IO sand_NN1 from_II each_DD1 kilometer_NNU1 of_IO coastline_NN1 ._. 
And_CC because_CS previous_JJ studies_NN2 of_IO the_AT seafloor_NN1 in_II this_DD1 area_NN1 have_VH0 suggested_VVN that_DD1 material_NN1 at_II water_NN1 depths_NN2 greater_JJR than_CSN 5_MC meters_NN2 typically_RR stays_VVZ put_VVN under_II normal_JJ conditions_NN2 ,_, much_DA1 of_IO that_DD1 sand_NN1 probably_RR wo_VM n't_XX be_VBI coming_VVG back_RP to_TO shore_VVI ._. 
But_CCB scientists_NN2 are_VBR still_RR learning_VVG how_RRQ to_TO predict_VVI shoreline_NN1 recovery_NN1 ._. 
John_NP1 B._NP1 Anderson_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 marine_JJ geologist_NN1 at_II Rice_NN1 University_NN1 in_II Houston_NP1 ,_, is_VBZ n't_XX so_RG sure_JJ all_DB that_DD1 sand_NN1 from_II Galveston_NP1 Bay_NN1 is_VBZ lost_VVN ._. 
Because_CS the_AT researchers_NN2 did_VDD n't_XX determine_VVI the_AT size_NN1 distribution_NN1 of_IO grains_NN2 in_II the_AT sand_NN1 layer_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ impossible_JJ to_TO tell_VVI what_DDQ proportion_NN1 of_IO those_DD2 grains_NN2 might_VM be_VBI small_JJ enough_RR to_TO be_VBI bumped_VVN back_RP to_TO shore_VVI by_II normal_JJ wave_NN1 action_NN1 ,_, even_RR from_II waters_NN2 up_RG21 to_RG22 10_MC meters_NN2 deep_RR ,_, he_PPHS1 adds_VVZ ._. 
After_II looking_VVG at_II historical_JJ data_NN ,_, Goff_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE colleagues_NN2 contend_VV0 that_CST the_AT sand_NN1 is_VBZ indeed_RR gone_VVN for_RR21 good_RR22 ._. 
An_AT1 extensive_JJ layer_NN1 of_IO sand_NN1 dragged_VVD offshore_RL by_II Hurricane_NN1 Carla_NP1 ,_, which_DDQ struck_VVD the_AT Texas_NP1 coast_NN1 in_II 1961_MC ,_, stayed_VVD where_RRQ the_AT storm_NN1 dropped_VVD it_PPH1 for_IF at_RR21 least_RR22 a_AT1 quarter_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 century_NNT1 ,_, they_PPHS2 note_VV0 ._. 
Sometimes_RT those_DD2 layers_NN2 of_IO storm-shifted_JJ sand_NN1 are_VBR buried_VVN by_II quickly_RR accumulating_VVG sediment_NN1 and_CC thus_RR preserved_VVN ,_, leaving_VVG in_II the_AT geological_JJ record_NN1 a_AT1 layer_NN1 known_VVN as_II a_AT1 "_" tempestite_NN1 ,_, "_" Goff_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
Studying_VVG and_CC understanding_VVG the_AT modern-day_JJ processes_NN2 that_CST generate_VV0 such_DA layers_NN2 can_VM aid_VVI researchers_NN2 trying_VVG to_TO interpret_VVI the_AT geological_JJ record_NN1 ._. 
The_AT presence_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 tempestite_NN1 would_VM indicate_VVI that_CST an_AT1 area_NN1 was_VBDZ susceptible_JJ to_II major_JJ storms_NN2 ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, and_CC the_AT size_NN1 and_CC frequency_NN1 of_IO such_DA layers_NN2 within_II rock_NN1 formations_NN2 could_VM yield_VVI clues_NN2 about_II ancient_JJ climates_NN2 ._. 
Diving_VVG deeper_RRR Because_CS hurricanes_NN2 strike_VV0 any_DD given_JJ stretch_NN1 of_IO coast_NN1 rather_RG infrequently_RR ,_, data_NN on_II the_AT storms_NN2 '_GE effects_NN2 are_VBR hard_JJ to_TO come_VVI by_II ._. 
On_II the_AT broader_JJR scale_NN1 ,_, satellite_NN1 observations_NN2 give_VV0 scientists_NN2 a_AT1 look_NN1 at_II the_AT speed_NN1 and_CC direction_NN1 of_IO currents_NN2 that_CST hurricanes_NN2 generate_VV0 at_II the_AT ocean_NN1 's_GE surface_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ oceanographer_NN1 William_NP1 J._NP1 Teague_NP1 of_IO the_AT Naval_JJ Research_NN1 Laboratory_NN1 at_II NASA_NP1 's_GE Stennis_NN1 Space_NN1 Center_NN1 in_II Mississippi_NP1 ._. 
"_" But_CCB once_CS you_PPY get_VV0 below_II the_AT surface_NN1 ,_, there_EX 's_VBZ a_AT1 void_NN1 of_IO data_NN ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 notes_VVZ ._. 
While_CS buoys_NN2 far_RL off_II the_AT Texas_NP1 coast_NN1 were_VBDR blown_VVN or_CC dragged_VVD southwest_ND1 as_CS31 far_CS32 as_CS33 35_MC kilometers_NNU2 during_II Ike_NP1 ,_, researchers_NN2 do_VD0 n't_XX know_VVI how_RGQ strong_JJ the_AT storm-induced_JJ currents_NN2 were_VBDR ,_, when_CS the_AT buoys_NN2 moved_VVN or_CC what_DDQ path_NN1 they_PPHS2 took_VVD --_NN1 it_PPH1 's_VBZ clear_JJ only_JJ where_CS the_AT buoys_NN2 ended_VVD up_RP ._. 
But_CCB new_JJ analyses_NN2 of_IO data_NN collected_VVN by_II seafloor_NN1 instruments_NN2 during_II another_DD1 hurricane_NN1 ,_, 2004_MC 's_GE Ivan_NP1 ,_, could_VM let_VVI researchers_NN2 make_VVI some_DD reasonable_JJ guesses_NN2 about_II water_NN1 's_GE scouring_NN1 power_NN1 beneath_II the_AT surface_NN1 ._. 
Just_RR before_II Ivan_NP1 slammed_VVD into_II the_AT Gulf_NP1 Coast_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 passed_VVD directly_RR over_II an_AT1 array_NN1 of_IO seafloor_NN1 sensors_NN2 deployed_VVN in_II mid-depth_NN1 waters_VVZ on_II the_AT continental_JJ shelf_NN1 south_ND1 of_IO Mobile_NP1 ,_, Ala_NP1 ._. 
At_II that_DD1 time_NNT1 ,_, Ivan_NP1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 category_NN1 4_MC hurricane_NN1 creeping_VVG northward_RL at_II about_RG 20_MC km/hr_NNU ,_, Teague_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
Previously_RR ,_, his_APPGE team_NN1 's_GE analysis_NN1 of_IO data_NN gathered_VVN during_II the_AT event_NN1 revealed_VVD the_AT largest_JJT waves_NN2 ever_RR measured_VVN by_II instruments_NN2 (_( SN_NN1 :_: 6/11/05_MF ,_, p._NN1 382_MC )_) ._. 
Now_RT ,_, the_AT group_NN1 's_GE work_NN1 gives_VVZ an_AT1 unprecedented_JJ look_NN1 at_II the_AT effects_NN2 of_IO huge_JJ waves_NN2 at_II depths_NN2 normally_RR undisturbed_JJ by_II events_NN2 at_II the_AT ocean_NN1 's_GE surface_NN1 ._. 
"_" These_DD2 data_NN make_VV0 it_PPH1 possible_JJ to_TO study_VVI the_AT physics_NN1 underneath_II a_AT1 hurricane_NN1 ,_, "_" Teague_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
In_II normal_JJ conditions_NN2 ,_, currents_NN2 crawl_VV0 along_RP the_AT ocean_NN1 bottom_NN1 at_II about_II 1_MC1 millimeter_NN1 per_II second_NNT1 ._. 
But_CCB as_CSA Hurricane_NN1 Ivan_NP1 passed_VVD over_RP ,_, seafloor_NN1 currents_NN2 rushed_VVN about_RG a_AT1 thousand_NNO times_NNT2 faster_RRR ,_, Teague_NP1 and_CC colleagues_NN2 report_VV0 in_II the_AT June_NPM1 16_MC Geophysical_JJ Research_NN1 Letters_NN2 ._. 
And_CC while_CS steady_JJ currents_NN2 are_VBR the_AT norm_NN1 for_IF deep_JJ water_NN1 ,_, the_AT researchers_NN2 estimate_VV0 that_CST shear_VV0 stresses_NN2 induced_VVN in_II seafloor_NN1 sediments_NN2 by_II the_AT waves_NN2 were_VBDR about_RG four_MC times_NNT2 higher_RRR than_CSN those_DD2 triggered_VVN by_II everyday_JJ currents_NN2 ._. 
The_AT strong_JJ back-and-forth_JJ action_NN1 of_IO Ivan_NP1 's_GE waves_NN2 was_VBDZ particularly_RR effective_JJ at_II stirring_VVG up_RP sediment_NN1 ;_; upward-looking_JJ sonar_NN1 detected_VVD sediment_NN1 suspended_VVN in_II the_AT water_NN1 as_RG much_DA1 as_CSA 25_MC meters_NN2 above_II the_AT ocean_NN1 floor_NN1 ._. 
The_AT researchers_NN2 did_VDD have_VHI one_MC1 surprise_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ Teague_NP1 :_: Currents_NN2 set_VVN in_II motion_NN1 by_II the_AT hurricane_NN1 were_VBDR strong_JJ enough_RR to_TO shuffle_VVI sediment_NN1 across_II the_AT ocean_NN1 floor_NN1 for_IF nearly_RR a_AT1 week_NNT1 after_II the_AT storm_NN1 had_VHD passed_VVN ._. 
During_II that_DD1 week_NNT1 ,_, currents_NN2 scoured_VVD more_DAR than_CSN 30_MC centimeters_NN2 of_IO material_NN1 from_II beneath_II one_MC1 of_IO the_AT sensors_NN2 ,_, he_PPHS1 notes_VVZ ._. 
Results_NN2 of_IO this_DD1 study_NN1 will_VM not_XX only_RR help_VVI scientists_NN2 improve_VVI and_CC calibrate_JJ models_NN2 of_IO subsurface_NN1 currents_NN2 ,_, says_VVZ Teague_NP1 ,_, but_CCB they_PPHS2 'll_VM also_RR help_VVI engineers_NN2 make_VVI seafloor_NN1 pipelines_NN2 more_RGR resilient_JJ in_II storms_NN2 ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ no_AT small_JJ problem_NN1 :_: According_II21 to_II22 a_AT1 report_NN1 released_VVN by_II the_AT Minerals_NN2 Management_NN1 Service_NN1 in_II February_NPM1 ,_, at_RR21 least_RR22 17_MC pipelines_NN2 that_CST crisscross_VV0 the_AT Gulf_NP1 seafloor_NN1 were_VBDR damaged_VVN by_II wind-_NN1 or_CC wave-induced_JJ currents_NN2 during_II hurricanes_NN2 Gustav_NP1 and_CC Ike_NP1 in_II 2008_MC ._. 
Vulnerability_NN1 varies_VVZ Scientists_NN2 '_GE next_MD question_NN1 is_VBZ how_RGQ much_DA1 erosion_NN1 will_VM result_VVI from_II the_AT powerful_JJ movement_NN1 of_IO water_NN1 during_II a_AT1 major_JJ storm_NN1 in_II any_DD given_JJ location_NN1 ._. 
Though_CS two_MC stretches_NN2 of_IO coast_NN1 may_VM appear_VVI similar_JJ ,_, their_APPGE erosion_NN1 rates_NN2 can_VM differ_VVI substantially_RR ._. 
Along_II the_AT Atlantic_NP1 Coast_NN1 ,_, the_AT shore_NN1 erodes_VVZ inland_RL ,_, on_II average_NN1 ,_, between_II 60_MC centimeters_NN2 and_CC a_AT1 meter_NN1 each_DD1 year_NNT1 ;_; annual_JJ rates_NN2 of_IO erosion_NN1 along_II the_AT Gulf_NP1 Coast_NN1 are_VBR double_JJ that_CST (_( SN_NN1 :_: 7/8/00_MF ,_, p._NN1 20_MC )_) ._. 
And_CC while_CS all_DB Gulf_NP1 shores_NN2 are_VBR at_II risk_NN1 of_IO being_VBG struck_VVN by_II major_JJ storms_NN2 ,_, some_DD areas_NN2 are_VBR more_RGR vulnerable_JJ to_II erosion_NN1 than_CSN others_NN2 ._. 
In_II southern_JJ Louisiana_NP1 ,_, and_CC particularly_RR in_II the_AT Mississippi_NP1 Delta_NN1 ,_, long-term_JJ sinking_NN1 ,_, or_CC subsidence_NN1 --_NN1 a_AT1 phenomenon_NN1 resulting_VVG from_II reduced_JJ deliveries_NN2 of_IO river_NN1 sediment_NN1 and_CC the_AT ongoing_JJ withdrawal_NN1 of_IO oil_NN1 and_CC gas_NN1 from_II underground_JJ reservoirs_NN2 --_NN1 makes_VVZ barrier_NN1 islands_NN2 unusually_RR susceptible_JJ to_II storms_NN2 ._. 
Rising_VVG sea_NN1 levels_NN2 only_RR aggravate_VV0 the_AT problem_NN1 ._. 
Even_RR along_RP relatively_RR stable_JJ shores_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 Texas_NP1 '_GE Gulf_NP1 Coast_NN1 ,_, long-term_JJ rates_NN2 of_IO erosion_NN1 can_VM differ_VVI dramatically_RR from_II one_MC1 swath_NN1 of_IO land_NN1 to_II the_AT next_MD ,_, says_VVZ Rice_NN1 's_GE Anderson_NP1 ._. 
With_IW coastal_JJ populations_NN2 growing_VVG at_II the_AT fastest_JJT rates_NN2 in_II the_AT country_NN1 ,_, better_JJR estimates_NN2 of_IO future_JJ erosion_NN1 are_VBR becoming_VVG more_RGR important_JJ than_CSN ever_RR ._. 
"_" If_CS I_PPIS1 were_VBDR a_AT1 shoreline_NN1 manager_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 could_VM take_VVI long-term_JJ data_NN and_CC make_VVI a_AT1 best_RRT bet_VV0 about_RP where_CS the_AT shoreline_NN1 would_VM possibly_RR be_VBI in_II 2040_MC ,_, "_" Frazer_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" But_CCB then_RT I_PPIS1 could_VM consider_VVI the_AT effects_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 single_JJ major_JJ storm_NN1 and_CC argue_VV0 that_CST maybe_RR I_PPIS1 'd_VHD better_RRR not_XX plan_VVI on_II the_AT shoreline_NN1 being_VBG there_RL exactly_RR ,_, because_CS that_DD1 storm_NN1 could_VM come_VVI along_RP and_CC blow_VVI you_PPY away_RL ...._... 
Things_NN2 can_VM look_VVI the_AT same_DA for_IF 50_MC years_NNT2 ,_, then_RT 'Bang_VV0 !_! '_" "_" he_PPHS1 notes_VVZ ._. 
That_DD1 happened_VVD on_II the_AT Bolivar_NN1 Peninsula_NN1 with_IW Hurricane_NN1 Ike_NP1 ,_, where_CS erosion_NN1 averages_NN2 1.3_MC meters_NN2 per_II year_NNT1 ,_, but_CCB Ike_NP1 sluiced_VVD away_RL at_RR21 least_RR22 30_MC times_NNT2 that_CST in_II one_MC1 fell_VVD swoop_NN1 ._. 
Using_VVG predictions_NN2 of_IO erosion_NN1 based_VVN on_II average_JJ rates_NN2 but_CCB also_RR including_II the_AT temporary_JJ impacts_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 major_JJ storm_NN1 might_VM have_VHI made_VVN prudent_JJ developers_NN2 think_VV0 twice_RR about_II building_NN1 structures_NN2 on_II the_AT low-lying_JJ land_NN1 --_NN1 or_CC at_RR21 least_RR22 let_VV0 the_AT developers_NN2 know_VVI that_CST their_APPGE buildings_NN2 needed_VVD taller_JJR stilts_NN2 ._. 
