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Thesis
POST-HURRICANE INTERACTIONS AMONG VEGETATION DYNAMICS, DUNE RECOVERY, AND PHYSICAL GRADIENTS ON BARRIER ISLANDS
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2015
Abstract
Several hurricanes and tropical storms made landfall in Northwest Florida during 2004 and 2005, significantly altering the morphology of the barrier island. The impact of the next storm depends on the ability of the dunes to re-develop in height and extent alongshore to reinforce the stability of the island. The presence of environmental gradients, or changes in conditions within a particular ecosystem or habitat, on Santa Rosa Island were examined after the island was overwashed and eroded during Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. The environmental gradients studied were wind speed, sediment movement, and morphology change for a one-month period at sites that are representative of the range of hurricane impacts to the island morphology (from no impact to breaches). Results suggest that environmental gradients exist and are significantly different among sites, largely in response to the pattern of vegetation and elevation changes. This difference suggests that analyzing a post-storm barrier island based on the level of impact can help determine rates and patterns of dune recovery.
Details
- Title
- POST-HURRICANE INTERACTIONS AMONG VEGETATION DYNAMICS, DUNE RECOVERY, AND PHYSICAL GRADIENTS ON BARRIER ISLANDS
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Identifiers
- 99380090758006600
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida