Kean Research Tracks Storm-Driven Erosion at Ortley Beach

Research led by Kean University Assistant Professor Jun Cheng, Ph.D., has been published in Geo-Marine Letters, documenting two years of shoreline change at Ortley Beach and offering insight into how storms influence erosion along the Jersey Shore.

The study examines how the Ocean County shoreline evolves over time and how major storms influence erosion patterns, providing data that could inform future protection strategies for coastal communities.

The research is already influencing conversations about shoreline protection. Cheng recently presented his findings to the Toms River Township Engineering Department, which led to a connection with a coastal engineering firm exploring strategies to address erosion along the coastline.

“Beach nourishment projects can add sand back to the shore, but sometimes that sand disappears quickly after storms,” Cheng said. “Our data helps show how and where erosion is happening to develop more effective prevention measures.”

As part of the project, students conduct monthly beach surveys using high-level GPS equipment to map the shoreline and measure changes in elevation and sand movement. During storms, the team increases its monitoring to track how waves and storm systems reshape the coastline.

The team plans to expand the project using AI models to analyze their growing dataset and identify long-term trends in beach evolution.

“Our goal is to train students to observe the coast, collect meaningful data and apply that data to analyze coastal change,” Cheng said. “At the same time, we want our research to help local beaches. When students see their work helping the local community, it becomes much more meaningful.”

That hands-on experience has already helped launch students into careers in coastal science. Two Kean students who assisted in the research, Amy Johnson ’25 and Michael Heuser ’24, now work with the Barnegat Bay Partnership. 

The project began in 2023 when Cheng and students from Kean Ocean identified Ortley Beach as their long-term field site. Known as an erosion-prone area, the stretch of Ocean County coastline is particularly vulnerable to storm impacts and rising sea levels. 

“Ortley Beach is one example of an erosive shoreline our group is studying. Our field observations also extend to other locations in New Jersey, including Sandy Hook, as well as bayside shorelines in Keyport and John’s Cove," Cheng said. " All these projects are closely connected with local townships and actively involve K–12 education to support public engagement. Our goal is to understand how these beaches change over time and to better serve local communities so they can make more effective decisions about protecting them.”