Global Distribution and Morphology of Deltaic Barrier Island Systems

Abstract

ABSTRACT There are approximately 400 barrier islands on the world's deltaic plains, with a combined length of 4,100 kilometers. They make up 30% of the world's estimated barrier islands (by length). Deltaic barrier islands make up more than half of barrier islands in South America, Asia, and Africa, but only 5% in North America and Europe due to differing sea level rise history. Barrier islands are present on all types of deltas, including wave, tide, and river dominated deltas. The transgressive model of barrier island formation on the Mississippi Delta is well understood, but applies to relatively few deltaic barrier island chains. Spit formation, and to a lesser extent beach ridge accretion, on active lobes appear to be the most dominant processes of barrier island formation. A simple morphologic classification based on island length and inlet width is presented. Five island types (Nile, Mangoky, Niger, Gurupi, Mekong, and Mississippi) are described, relating island, inlet, and shoreface morphology to ...