Barrier Islands

Dominick YungingerMr. Wnek

Oceanography25 September 2009

An Overview

•Popular vacation spots

•Most found near eastern US coast

•Separated from the main land by a shallow sound, bay or lagoon

Why are they important?

1.Protect mainland from harsh storms.

2.Home to many animals and plants dependent on barrier island ecosystems.

3.Bring in a LOT of tourists (Bennies) and money for the state (more bennies).

Examples of Barrier Islands

•Ocean City, Maryland

•Raccoon Island, Louisiana

•Long Beach Island, New Jersey

Ocean City, Maryland

Raccoon Island, Louisiana

Long Beach Island, New Jersey

Formation of Barrier Islands

•Existing sand bar

•Natural tides pile more sand, making an island

•Drifting seeds get into sand, grow vegetation

•Root systems hold soil together, island grows more and more stable

Parts of a Barrier Island1.Beach

2.Dunes

3.Washout/wash over

4.Main Tidal Channel (Inlet)

5.Lagoon (or bay, sound, etc.)

6.Marsh

I recognized all of those except for “washout/wash over”…

Species Specific to Barrier Islands

•Based on as much research as possible, there are no species exclusive to barrier islands

•Islands constructed from almost nothing, no animals.

•Plant life washed ashore by ocean.

Barrier Islands and Climate Change

•Possibility of being affected greatly

•Harsher storms

•Rise in sea level

Works Cited"Barrier island processes." College Home ‐

College of 

Charleston. Web. 24 Sept. 2009.  <http://spinner.cofc.edu/cgoinquiry/barrierislandprocess.

htm?referrer=webcluster&>."Barrier Islands." Florida Travel and Vacation Guides, Hotels, 

Beaches, Islands, Resorts, Getaways, Florida beach  resorts. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. 

<http://www.2fla.com/barrier_islands.htm>."Expert on Barrier Islands and Climate Change Available." 

Newswise

= Smart News Connection | Home. Web. 24  Sept. 2009. 

<http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/546605/>."SEPM Sequence Stratigraphy

‐

Barrier Islands ‐

Components." SEPM Sequence Stratigraphy

Web. Web. 24  Sept. 2009. 

<http://strata.geol.sc.edu/MARINESEDIMENTS/BarrierIsla nds/BarrierIntro.htm>.