USGS - science for a changing world

St. Petersburg Science Center

St. Peterburg Science Center > Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms

Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms

Home
Coastal Change Hazards
Assessing Coastal Vulnerability to Extreme Storms:
Extreme Storms
Storm-Induced Coastal Change
Storm Impact Scale
Storm Response Activities:
Lidar
Aerial Photography
Ground Surveys
Extreme Storm Impact Studies:
Hurricanes:
2008 - Gustav, Ike
2005 - Wilma, Rita, Katrina, Dennis
2004 - Jeanne, Ivan, Frances, Charley
2003 - Isabel
All Years (1996-2008)
El Niño:
1997-98 El Niño
Northeasters:
1998 Assateague Island
Historical Storms:
Hurricane Camille (1969)
Publications
Related Links
Contact Information
graph showing dune erosion in Rodanthe, North Carolina resulting from Hurricane Isabel Figure 1. Dune erosion in Rodanthe, NC resulting from Hurricane Isabel's 2003 landfall. The elevation of the dune decreased by almost a meter. [larger version]
dune erosion in Nags Head Figure 2. High storm surge and wave runup during Hurricane Isabel (2003) caused widespread dune erosion in Nags Head, NC. [larger version]

Storm-Induced Coastal Change

Dune Erosion

overwash (Figure 2). The eroded sediment is carried offshore and stored in large sandbars. The sand dune can recover over a period of years, gaining in elevation and volume through deposits of wind-blown sand. Because dunes rebuild over a long period, many coastal counties choose to build temporary dunes following a large storm.

return to Coastal Change Overview | continue to Overwash

St. Peterburg Science Center > Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo FirstGov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/coastal-change/dune-erosion.html
Page Contact Information: Feedback
Page Last Modified: October 20, 2009 @ 04:16 PM (JSS)