Physical Processes
Barrier Island Formation
Geomorphology
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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.
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