Observed changes in hurricane-driven waves explain the dynamics of modern cuspate shorelines

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  • Moore, L.J.
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Geological Sciences
  • McNamara, D.E.
    • Other Affiliation: University of North Carolina at Wilmington
  • Murray, A.B.
    • Other Affiliation: Duke University
  • Brenner, O.
    • Other Affiliation: University of Virginia
Abstract
  • A comparison between historical and recent shoreline-change rates on the U.S. east coast (based on observed shoreline positions from the last century and a half) shows that emergent, large-scale, cuspate coastline features are changing shape, becoming more asymmetrical. This change in coastline shape arises from spatial shifts in the location of erosion and accretion zones. Using a numerical model of coastline change forced by wave-driven alongshore sediment flux, we show that a previously identified shift in hurricane-generated wave climate explains the patterns of coastline change we observe. Our results reveal a previously unrecognized type of large-scale, chronic landscape response to changing forcing. Though demonstrated here for a cuspate coastline, similar large-scale morphological adjustments are likely to occur along coastlines of varying morphology in the future - as global warming continues, along with the associated intensification of storms. Our approach allows for constraining and predicting future shifts in coastline shape.
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  • Article
Rights statement
  • In Copyright
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  • Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
Journal title
  • Geophysical Research Letters
Journal volume
  • 40
Journal issue
  • 22
Page start
  • 5867
Page end
  • 5871
Language
  • English
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  • Publisher
ISSN
  • 0094-8276
Publisher
  • American Geophysical Union

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