Tidal influence on barrier island morphodynamics: Examples from Florida, USA

Tidal processes and wave processes influence both barrier islands and the inlets that separate them. Barrier islands are generally termed wave-dominated or mixed energy, each of which has its own set of characteristics. Inlets may be wave-dominated, mixed energy or tide-dominated. A range of combinations of these types of elements comprises the barrier-inlet system. Wave-dominated barriers may be associated with wave-dominated inlets or tide-dominated inlets depending on the relationships between wave and tidal energies, and on sediment transport. The result will be long and straight barriers with small inlets/closed inlets, or right angle barriers where tide-dominated inlets are present. Mixed energy inlets ate typically associated with mixed energy or drumstick barriers. Changes in conditions may cause wave-dominated barriers to transition to mixed energy barriers and vice versa.