Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The Mid-Atlantic Bight.
Ribbons of Sand
The barrier beach systems of the Mid-Atlantic, whether islands or spits attached to the mainland, have a com-
mon characteristic. They are adapted to the combination of physical forces that constantly challenge and seek
to destroy them, including rising sea level, storms, wave-driven currents, and wind. Not only have the islands
and their ecosystems withstood these powerful stresses without being destroyed, it is these forces that shape
and maintain them over time.
