Using Video Imagery to Study Wave Dynamics: Isla Verde
USGS scientists installed video cameras atop a building and oceanographic instruments off San Juan, Puerto Rico, to better understand how waves move across coral reefs and cause flooding on tropical shorelines.
![Shallow, underwater photo of a reef with various species of corals growing on the rocky substrate.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/PR-reef.jpg?itok=vxeO806z)
USGS scientists designed a video camera station to measure wave run-up and flooding in the Isla Verde Coral Reef Marine Reserve and on the shoreline adjacent to the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport. The cameras, installed atop a building and overlooking this stretch of coast, collected a variety of imagery between November, 2018 through July, 2019. The imagery helps to show where waves break on the reef and how high they run up on the shore.
Currently, oceanographic instruments installed on the coral reef continue to measure wave heights and speeds.
As part of a study funded by USGS in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, USGS partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (UPR-M), and Arrecifes Pro Ciudad to better understand how waves propagate across coral reefs and cause coastal flooding along tropical shorelines. Their goal is to reduce hazards to, and increase the resilience of, tropical coastal communities. NOAA will use the study results to guide restoration of coral reefs and threatened coral species (Acropora spp., Dendrogyra cylindrus, Orbicella spp.). UPR-M will use the findings to improve coastal hazard forecasts they provide with data from NOAA’s Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS). Arrecifes Pro Ciudad is a community-based effort to protect and restore the Isla Verde Coral Reef Marine Reserve. This urban reef supports various species of protected corals, sea turtles, and crustaceans, as well as many Caribbean fish. It also protects the International Airport and numerous homes and resorts on the coast.
![Photo is taken from a boat on the water looking back toward the shoreline with an expansive metropolis of buildings.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/san_juan_PR.jpg?itok=7zBADElq)
Snapshots
The snapshot is the first frame of the video, just like a standard photo.
![Image from a video atop a building looking down at a tropical beach with palm trees and gently breaking waves.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc1_snap.jpg?itok=-0Zu81nu)
![Photo of a beach looking off into the distance with gently breaking waves.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc2_snap.jpg?itok=guJ-xZNv)
![Photo of a beach from up above, looking at gently breaking waves.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc3_snap.jpg?itok=P0xa6c0e)
![Photo of a beach with gently breaking waves.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc4_snap.jpg?itok=HvIMjWbQ)
Timex (time-exposure) images
A timex is a time-averaged image of all frames, smoothing away surface waves and determining the location of persistent wave-breaking (indicative of shallow sandbars).
![Time exposure image shows a beach with palm trees and a blurry area where waves were breaking, over a 10-minute period.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c1_timex.jpg?itok=_w_N6TY9)
![Time exposure image shows a curving beach and the water is smooth where waves were breaking over a 10-minute period.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c2_timex.jpg?itok=RfY3QfQ1)
![Time exposure image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image represents a time-ave](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc3_timex.jpg?itok=Oc-gVOwY)
![Time exposure image shows a beach with a blurry area where waves were breaking, over a 10-minute period.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c4_timex.jpg?itok=y1ZDxEDM)
Variance images
A “variance” image shows the standard deviation of pixel intensity throughout the video, and it is useful for determining how much variation or movement is occurring at a given location.
![Dark image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes, shows a beach and where varying degrees of movement happened.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c1_var.jpg?itok=r2s4xlHG)
![Dark image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes, shows a beach and where varying degrees of movement happened.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c2_var.jpg?itok=ZP49NDk6)
![Dark image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes, shows a beach and where varying degrees of movement happened.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc3_var.jpg?itok=MrKPq9fO)
![Dark image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes, shows a beach and where varying degrees of movement happened.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc4_var.jpg?itok=QvCyyLQd)
Bright images
A “bright” image shows the brightest pixel values throughout the video, useful for identifying the position of maximum wave run-up on the beach, position of all breaking waves, and sea-state.
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc1_bright.jpg?itok=9LGGRLGG)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc2_bright.jpg?itok=TlhT4zt7)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc3_bright.jpg?itok=efSL47Ao)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc4_bright.jpg?itok=mKQ-qFr_)
Dark images
A “dark” image shows the darkest pixel values throughout the video, useful for tracking sediment plumes, tracking floating debris, and filtering out breaking waves.
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the darkest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c1_dark.jpg?itok=TMI12skf)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the darkest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c2_dark.jpg?itok=7WaKViwe)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the darkest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c3_dark.jpg?itok=x1_WapwW)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the darkest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c4_dark.jpg?itok=KLDl-jB1)
![A man stands near cameras mounted on a pole, on top of a building, with a beach in the background.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/rooftopNov6-18-160045.jpg?itok=UJvc2PEw)
Below are the projects that use the data collected by the video cameras, as well as other locations where similar video cameras are or were previously installed.
Coral Reef Project
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Santa Cruz Beaches
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Sunset State Beach
Using Video Imagery to Study Wave Dynamics: Tres Palmas
Using Video Imagery to Study Wave Dynamics: Unalakleet
Using Video Imagery to Study Head of the Meadow Beach
Coral Reef Project: Puerto Rico
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Whidbey Island
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Barter Island, Alaska
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Time series data of oceanographic conditions from La Parguera, Puerto Rico, 2017-2018 Coral Reef Circulation and Sediment Dynamics Experiment
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Studying flood hazards in San Juan, Puerto Rico
USGS scientists from Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, along with with NOAA, the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, and Arrecifes Pro Ciudad, are using video imagery and wave measurements to study flood hazards in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Below are partners associated with this project.
USGS scientists installed video cameras atop a building and oceanographic instruments off San Juan, Puerto Rico, to better understand how waves move across coral reefs and cause flooding on tropical shorelines.
![Shallow, underwater photo of a reef with various species of corals growing on the rocky substrate.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/PR-reef.jpg?itok=vxeO806z)
USGS scientists designed a video camera station to measure wave run-up and flooding in the Isla Verde Coral Reef Marine Reserve and on the shoreline adjacent to the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport. The cameras, installed atop a building and overlooking this stretch of coast, collected a variety of imagery between November, 2018 through July, 2019. The imagery helps to show where waves break on the reef and how high they run up on the shore.
Currently, oceanographic instruments installed on the coral reef continue to measure wave heights and speeds.
As part of a study funded by USGS in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, USGS partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (UPR-M), and Arrecifes Pro Ciudad to better understand how waves propagate across coral reefs and cause coastal flooding along tropical shorelines. Their goal is to reduce hazards to, and increase the resilience of, tropical coastal communities. NOAA will use the study results to guide restoration of coral reefs and threatened coral species (Acropora spp., Dendrogyra cylindrus, Orbicella spp.). UPR-M will use the findings to improve coastal hazard forecasts they provide with data from NOAA’s Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS). Arrecifes Pro Ciudad is a community-based effort to protect and restore the Isla Verde Coral Reef Marine Reserve. This urban reef supports various species of protected corals, sea turtles, and crustaceans, as well as many Caribbean fish. It also protects the International Airport and numerous homes and resorts on the coast.
![Photo is taken from a boat on the water looking back toward the shoreline with an expansive metropolis of buildings.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/san_juan_PR.jpg?itok=7zBADElq)
Snapshots
The snapshot is the first frame of the video, just like a standard photo.
![Image from a video atop a building looking down at a tropical beach with palm trees and gently breaking waves.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc1_snap.jpg?itok=-0Zu81nu)
![Photo of a beach looking off into the distance with gently breaking waves.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc2_snap.jpg?itok=guJ-xZNv)
![Photo of a beach from up above, looking at gently breaking waves.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc3_snap.jpg?itok=P0xa6c0e)
![Photo of a beach with gently breaking waves.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc4_snap.jpg?itok=HvIMjWbQ)
Timex (time-exposure) images
A timex is a time-averaged image of all frames, smoothing away surface waves and determining the location of persistent wave-breaking (indicative of shallow sandbars).
![Time exposure image shows a beach with palm trees and a blurry area where waves were breaking, over a 10-minute period.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c1_timex.jpg?itok=_w_N6TY9)
![Time exposure image shows a curving beach and the water is smooth where waves were breaking over a 10-minute period.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c2_timex.jpg?itok=RfY3QfQ1)
![Time exposure image of Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a coastal video monitoring station. Image represents a time-ave](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc3_timex.jpg?itok=Oc-gVOwY)
![Time exposure image shows a beach with a blurry area where waves were breaking, over a 10-minute period.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c4_timex.jpg?itok=y1ZDxEDM)
Variance images
A “variance” image shows the standard deviation of pixel intensity throughout the video, and it is useful for determining how much variation or movement is occurring at a given location.
![Dark image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes, shows a beach and where varying degrees of movement happened.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c1_var.jpg?itok=r2s4xlHG)
![Dark image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes, shows a beach and where varying degrees of movement happened.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c2_var.jpg?itok=ZP49NDk6)
![Dark image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes, shows a beach and where varying degrees of movement happened.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc3_var.jpg?itok=MrKPq9fO)
![Dark image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes, shows a beach and where varying degrees of movement happened.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc4_var.jpg?itok=QvCyyLQd)
Bright images
A “bright” image shows the brightest pixel values throughout the video, useful for identifying the position of maximum wave run-up on the beach, position of all breaking waves, and sea-state.
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc1_bright.jpg?itok=9LGGRLGG)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc2_bright.jpg?itok=TlhT4zt7)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc3_bright.jpg?itok=efSL47Ao)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the brightest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/SanJuanPRc4_bright.jpg?itok=mKQ-qFr_)
Dark images
A “dark” image shows the darkest pixel values throughout the video, useful for tracking sediment plumes, tracking floating debris, and filtering out breaking waves.
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the darkest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c1_dark.jpg?itok=TMI12skf)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the darkest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c2_dark.jpg?itok=7WaKViwe)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the darkest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c3_dark.jpg?itok=x1_WapwW)
![Image from a video camera shooting for 10 minutes tracks the darkest pixels through that time.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/c4_dark.jpg?itok=KLDl-jB1)
![A man stands near cameras mounted on a pole, on top of a building, with a beach in the background.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/rooftopNov6-18-160045.jpg?itok=UJvc2PEw)
Below are the projects that use the data collected by the video cameras, as well as other locations where similar video cameras are or were previously installed.
Coral Reef Project
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Santa Cruz Beaches
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Sunset State Beach
Using Video Imagery to Study Wave Dynamics: Tres Palmas
Using Video Imagery to Study Wave Dynamics: Unalakleet
Using Video Imagery to Study Head of the Meadow Beach
Coral Reef Project: Puerto Rico
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Whidbey Island
Using Video Imagery to Study Coastal Change: Barter Island, Alaska
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Time series data of oceanographic conditions from La Parguera, Puerto Rico, 2017-2018 Coral Reef Circulation and Sediment Dynamics Experiment
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Studying flood hazards in San Juan, Puerto Rico
USGS scientists from Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, along with with NOAA, the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, and Arrecifes Pro Ciudad, are using video imagery and wave measurements to study flood hazards in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Below are partners associated with this project.