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Physical Process

Barrier Island Formation

Geomorphology

The buildup of a long, narrow island of sand running parallel to a coastline, separated from the mainland by a lagoon or sound, formed as waves and longshore currents pile up sand ridges offshore or as a spit is breached and detached from the mainland shore. Barrier islands are dynamic, constantly reshaped by storms and shifting currents, and their protective role in absorbing wave energy before it reaches the mainland coast makes their ongoing erosion a significant coastal management concern.

Facts
Timescale
Timescale (category)
Thousands of Years 1
Process Type
Coastal 2
Connections

Associated With

Caused By

Sources
1. Barrier island (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia infobox 'Lead section' = 'Barrier islands are a coastal landform, a type of dune system and s...' on 'Barrier island'View the Source
2. Barrier Island Formation (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction
Quote, Introduction
Barrier islands are a coastal landform, a type of dune system and sand island, where an area of sand off the coast has been formed by wave and tidal action parallel to the mainland coast.
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