Post-Hurricane Ian Peat Exposure North Inlet, South Carolina: Determining Holocene Barrier Beach Migration

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.