The Napeague Dunes, Long Island, NY

by John A. Black, GSI, Patchogue, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '93

Abstract:

The Napeague Dunes of eastern Long Island, N.Y., consist of a series of three migrating parabolic dunes. The area presently occupied by this system was formerly a 2.7 Km wide inlet following the rise in sea level during the final recession of the Wisconsinian Glacier. Sediments carried and ultimately deposited by coastal currents sealed the inlet on the south and formed barrier beaches to the north. Such deposition resulted in the development of a low energy environment and fostered the formation of an extensive salt marsh. The area ultimately developed into a woodland, which is being successively buried and exposed by the migrating dune. The geological development of the area presently occupied by the Napeague Dunes is considered and the events leading to its development are discussed. The origin of the sediments composing the dunes is addressed as is the fate of the migrating dunes.

Subject Headings: Dunes | Sediment | Salts | Islands | Inlets (waterway) | Geological surveys | Sea level | New York | United States

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