Morphologic changes at Fire Island 1969-2009

Alongshore plots of different morphologic features show that movement of the shoreline and dune crest, and change in the dune elevation are minimal (near zero) in the western and central portions of Fire Island. Along the eastern segment of the island, there is measurable landward movement of the shoreline and dune crest (below zero), as well as dune crest elevation loss. Changes in the width of the beach and the volume from the dune crest to the shoreline are largely positive over the entire length of the island, suggesting that there is conservation of sediment; there is landward transport of material in the eastern portion of the island but not in the western and central portions.