USGS research geologist Jennifer Miselis and co-author Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba from Montclair State University published a paper entitled "Natural and human-induced variability in barrier island response to sea level rise" in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters. The article combines geomorphological and pre- and post-Hurricane Sandy observations from coastal New Jersey with a morphodynamic model to forecast the response of barrier islands to various rates of sea level rise and explores the impact of human alterations on forecasted behavior. This is particularly important for New Jersey, which is expected to experience rates of relative sea-level rise that are higher than average. The work suggests that human changes to coastal systems will impact the lifespan of barrier islands thereby altering their ability to to protect mainland coasts and sustain coastal communities and economies.

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