1. Location index for pre-storm and post-storm LIDAR elevations for the Outer Banks, NC (Location 3 on map). Each location includes pre- and post-storm topography as well as topographic change. The green line shows Hurricane Irene’s track.
On the elevation images below, red colors indicate topographic highs, while blues indicate topographic lows. The differences between the pre- and post-storm elevation data sets show where significant changes have occurred. Red colors indicate erosion. For example, oranges and reds on the seaward side of the islands indicate wide-spread shoreline retreat. (In each image, the Atlantic Ocean is on the bottom right.) Blue colors show areas of accretion, such as overwash deposits where waves and surge have moved sand landward.

2. Before and After Hurricane Irene Aerial Photographs

3. November 27-December 1, 2009 (pre-storm) Hatteras Village, NC
Location 3: LIDAR topography from November 27-December 1, 2009 (pre-storm) and August 28-29, 2011 (post-storm) and topographic change (difference) for a portion of Hatteras Village, NC. “In the pre-storm image, note the prominent dunes (broad line of relatively high elevations) across the center of the image. In the post-storm, the band of dunes appears somewhat narrower. This is seen more clearly in the difference image, where landward of the eroded beach, there is a line of high erosion of the ocean-side of the dunes, presumably by waves during Irene. There is also some indication of overwash, with a more landward line of erosion followed by a line of deposition.” See pre- and post-storm photo comparisons at [ for additional discussion.
RED = HIGH, BLUE = LOW

4. August 28-29, 2011 (post-storm) for a portion of Hatteras Village, NC
Location 3: LIDAR topography from November 27-December 1, 2009 (pre-storm) and August 28-29, 2011 (post-storm) and topographic change (difference) for a portion of Hatteras Village, NC. “In the pre-storm image, note the prominent dunes (broad line of relatively high elevations) across the center of the image. In the post-storm, the band of dunes appears somewhat narrower. This is seen more clearly in the difference image, where landward of the eroded beach, there is a line of high erosion of the ocean-side of the dunes, presumably by waves during Irene. There is also some indication of overwash, with a more landward line of erosion followed by a line of deposition.” See pre- and post-storm photo comparisons at [ for additional discussion.
RED = HIGH, BLUE = LOW

5. RED = EROSION, BLUE = ACCRETION
Topographic change (difference) for a portion of Hatteras Village, NC
Location 3: LIDAR topography from November 27-December 1, 2009 (pre-storm) and August 28-29, 2011 (post-storm) and topographic change (difference) for a portion of Hatteras Village, NC. “In the pre-storm image, note the prominent dunes (broad line of relatively high elevations) across the center of the image. In the post-storm, the band of dunes appears somewhat narrower. This is seen more clearly in the difference image, where landward of the eroded beach, there is a line of high erosion of the ocean-side of the dunes, presumably by waves during Irene. There is also some indication of overwash, with a more landward line of erosion followed by a line of deposition.” See pre- and post-storm photo comparisons at [ for additional discussion.
RED = EROSION, BLUE = ACCRETION