Figure 1. Coastal processes of waves, flooding, and currents redistribute sand on the beach and dunes over time. As the ocean rises (from Time 1 to Time 2) the beach and dune profile changes (from solid to dashed lines). The process of landward deposition of overwash (sand carried by flood waters in the dune) results in an upward and inland migration of the frontal dune ridge and preservation of the beach and dune landform. (Modified from Wells, 1995, Figure 6-5 and based on Dubois, 1992).

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Last updated on October 6, 2005

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