A Disappearing Act:Gulf Coast Barrier Islands and threats posed by climate

change

Rebekah Jones

Questions and Approach

• How have barrier islands been affected by recent hurricane activity?

• Does climate change pose a threat to Gulf Islands?

• Are the effects of climate change already manifesting on the surface?

• What role do barrier islands play in protecting the shoreline?

• What will the degradation of these islands mean for storm surge on the coast?

• Use of GIS and remotely sensed data to measure surface area loss

• Government intervention methods to protect barrier islands, if any

• History of island use

• Projections for sea level rise, hurricane activity compared to that of recent years

Ship Island, Miss

2000 (left) and 2005 (right) Landsat 5 images of damage following Hurricane Katrina. Ship Island has lost 65 percent of its total surface area since 1948.

NDVI

Sept. 2010

Åug. 2006

Findings:

• Overall massive loss of surface area since 1986

• Disruption in the natural aggradation cycle of island regeneration, and possible total submergence of secondary

islands by 2025, and main islands by 2040

• Loss of life, increased property damage and coastal retreat from intensified storm surge a possible result

Overall displacement of large populations resulting from an irreversible process which appears to be worsening