Establishing relationships between topography and vegetation for a post-storm incipient foredune system

Keywords: Dune, Hurricane, Dorian, Vegetation, coastal geomorphology, aeolian
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Coastal foredunes serve as the seaward line of defense to protect communities and infrastructure from natural hazards and rising sea levels. Natural foredune development depends on sediment availability, adequate aeolian transport, and vegetation. From a morphologic perspective, the latter can play a vital role in dune development by stabilizing the system against runup and wind erosion, inducing wind-blown sediment deposition. Various halophytic species have been classified by their morphologic function in dune growth and establishment. However, vegetation’s role in dune growth and morphology remains contested. Further, a limited number of studies have examined the connection between vegetation and pre- and post-storm morphology in coastal foredune environments. This paper focuses on incipient foredunes, the morphologic precursor to foredunes. Specifically, this research aims to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the relationships between pre- and post-storm conditions for vegetation and morphology of an incipient foredune system impacted by Hurricane Dorian (2019) on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, USA. Data collection included vegetation quadrat surveys and topographic elevation surveys along ten shore perpendicular transects. Vegetation distribution and functional type were considered. Digital elevation models were generated from topographic data. Results indicate a relationship between vegetation functional type and topographic change.