Content area
Full Text
ABSTRACT
ZHANG, K. and LEATHERMAN, S., 2011. Barrier Island Population along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Journal of Coastal Research, 27(2), 356-363. West Palm Beach (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.
Barrier islands, the dominant geomorphic features along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, are a favorite place for living and visiting. Unfortunately, barrier islands are vulnerable to storm-surge flooding and erosion because of low elevations and the movement of sand by waves and tides. In order to estimate the impacts of surge flooding, sea-level rise, and erosion on barrier islands, the lengths and areas of barrier islands and population living there were quantified using high-resolution satellite imagery from Google Earth and 1990-2000 census block data. The total length and area of barrier islands spanning 18 states along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts are about 3700 km and 6800 km^sup 2^, respectively. There are approximately 1.4 million people living on barrier islands, half of which are in Florida according to 2000 census data. The population densities of barrier islands are three times those of coastal states on average, and the population increased 14% from 1990 to 2000. The collision course of population increases and development in the face of accelerated sea-level rise due to global climate change makes barrier islands more vulnerable.
ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Barrier islands, coastal population, Google Earth, U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.
INTRODUCTION
"Barrier islands are elongated, shore-parallel accumulations of unconsolidated materials (primarily sand), which are separated from the mainland by bays, lagoons, or wetland complexes" (Hayes, 2005, p. 117). As a trailing edge of the continental plate and with tidal ranges generally less than 2m, the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts are dominated by barrier islands and become highly sought after locations for development. The attraction of beaches and ocean views has drawn multitudes of people to settle on and to take vacations on barrier islands from Maine to Texas. Unfortunately, barrier islands are very dynamic geomorphic features and change constantly by the actions of wind, waves, currents, and tides. Storms, including nor'easters and hurricanes, often impact the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts during the winter and summer, causing drastic changes of barrier islands through erosion and inlet breaching. Barrier islands are vulnerable to storm-surge flooding due to their low-lying...