The relative role of constructive and destructive processes in dune evolution on Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina, USA

Coastal dunes are dynamic features that continuously evolving due to constructive (e.g., wind- and wave-driven sediment transport) destructive elevated total water levels during storm events) processes. However, the relative importance of these processes in determining dune evolution is often poorly understood. In this study, ten lidar datasets from 1997 2016 used determine role erosion accretion driving foredune change on coast Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina, USA. Beach morphometrics reveal toe locations have generally retreated since 1997, while crest heights accreted by 0.01–0.02 m/year. We develop three univariate metrics represent (1) potential for erosion, i.e., level impact hours per year, (2) accretion, building (3) net effect processes, constructive–destructive forcing (CDDF) ratio, test correlative power explaining changes morphology. The year metric explained as much 66% 67% variance elevations, respectively, across nearly two decades evolution. greatest number largest within study site co-occurred at exposed dominant cross-shore wind direction a result varying shoreline orientation. CDDF ratio was positively correlated elevation approximately 70% site, outperforming metrics. Our results show can provide first-order estimates morphometric multiple spatial temporal scales, which may be particularly useful sites where acquisition intermittent.