University Released Six Decades of Beach Erosion Data

The University of Rhode Island launched an online portal documenting coastal shifts across eight state beaches.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Geography

Isometric editorial illustration of a beach survey stake in sand dunes with a coastal shoreline, representing environmental data tracking. — The University of Rhode Island has released a sixty-year digital archive of coastal erosion data detailing shoreline shifts at eight Rhode Island beaches. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should coastal communities restrict new home construction to help protect vulnerable shorelines from erosion?

The University of Rhode Island has debuted a new website providing public access to sixty years of coastal erosion data. The project tracks physical changes across eight Rhode Island beaches dating back to the program's inception in 1962.

Why it matters

This digital archive helps the public and coastal managers better understand long-term shoreline trends and environmental shifts. It provides a visual and data-driven history of how Rhode Island's coastline has reacted to decades of weather events and erosion.

Researchers have performed approximately 1,000 surveys to date, using real-time kinematic global positioning systems to map elevation from the waterline to vegetation. Green Hill and Moonstone beaches have lost 140 feet of land since 1963.

The players

University of Rhode Island

This public research university serves as the primary institution for oceanographic and coastal studies in the state.

Rhode Island Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council

This state government body provides funding and policy oversight for climate-related research and resilience projects.

The details

The project documents significant geographic shifts, including the Moonstone beach face moving 100 feet landward since 1963 and 30 feet of erosion at South Kingstown Town Beach since 2016. Surveyors create precise beach profiles to analyze how storm damage and rising water levels reshape the local landscape.

1938: The Great Hurricane caused 41 deaths in Westerly and destroyed the Weekapaug Inn.
1962: The University of Rhode Island began its long-term beach survey project.
2012: Superstorm Sandy caused significant beach and dune changes along the coast.
2023: Standardized survey practices shifted to include global positioning system tools.
2026-10-08
The University of Rhode Island launched the new public website.

Deeper Dive

The project follows the data-gathering standards established by the Rhode Island Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council's shoreline mapping initiatives. This effort marks a departure from fragmented historical records by centralizing long-term environmental metrics in one accessible location.

Residents and property owners can use this site to visualize how specific stretches of coastline have evolved over their lifetime. The data serves as a practical resource for understanding local land loss, informing personal decisions regarding coastal property or recreation.

The takeaway

Understanding six decades of shoreline change highlights the consistent, long-term impact of environmental forces on local geography. Residents should use these historical trends to better prepare for future fluctuations in the coastal landscape.