Loading...
Post-Hurricane Ian Peat Exposure North Inlet, South Carolina: Determining Holocene Barrier Beach Migration
Journal Title
Readers/Advisors
Journal Title
Term and Year
Publication Date
2023
Book Title
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Publication Begin
Publication End
Number of pages
Files
Loading...
SURC_burns.pdf
Adobe PDF, 39.52 MB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
The East Coast of the United States is known for its extensive connection of barrier islands. These
barrier islands are rapidly migrating landward due to sea level rise, increased storm activity and
relatively low availability of sediment. The back barrier marshes are ideal environments for the
production of peat, a carbon rich deposit formed as plant matter decays in anoxic water. As sea level
rises, these barrier systems migrate, rst peat is buried and then later exposed on the shoreface
following storm activity. Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 30, 2022 near Georgetown, South
Carolina. Storm overwash exposed peat on the shoreface south of Debordieu, South Carolina near the
Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences and North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve. Two layers of peat were sampled for radiocarbon dating as well as an intact deer
skeleton perfectly preserved within the peat layer. Radiocarbon dates show transgression of the
barrier system which can be compared to similar studies in other locations along the East Coast of the
United States. Recent study along the Virginia coast found an average rate of retreat of 4.35 m yr-1.
Preliminary calculations using historical maps and GIS data suggests North Inlet may be experiencing
a faster rate of retreat.
Citation
DOI
Description
SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference Poster Presentation.