Beach-dune System Research Articles

Human Impact on the Spatiotemporal Evolution of Beach Resilience on the Northwestern Yucatan Coast

The northern Yucatan peninsula is prone to coastal flooding and erosion owing to its low-land elevation and high exposure to storms. Therefore, it is important to assess the capability of the beach-dune system to resist, recover, and adapt from storms in the context of coastal development and climate change. This work aims to investigate the role of human impacts on the spatiotemporal evolution of the Coastal Resilience Index (CRI) in the area. The study is conducted on a prograding micro-tidal beach located on the vicinity of coastal structures. Beach and dune morphometrics, characteristic beach parameters, and maximum shoreline recession were determined from the analysis of beach profiles undertaken along a 2-km straight of coastline during the 2015–2020 period. Moreover, the maximum extreme water levels were estimated using in situ data and numerical models. This information is employed to assess the alongshore and temporal variability of the beach resilience. The results suggest that the beach and dune morphology present alongshore and temporal variability due to the human impacts associated to the dune degradation and the presence of coastal structures. The analysis shows that coastal resilience has been increasing over the past years but presents significant alongshore variations. High CRI values were found at beach transects presenting low anthropogenic impact, whereas low resilience was observed at transects with a degraded dune or located in the vicinity of coastal structures regardless of presenting high progradation rates. The observed beach response during the passage of recent tropical storms is consistent with the CRI values.

The effect of building geometry on the size of aeolian deposition patterns: Scale model experiments at the beach

In sandy environments, like the beach-dune system, buildings not only affect the airflow, but also the aeolian sediment transport in their surroundings. In this study, we determine how the horizontal size of sediment deposition patterns around buildings depends on the building's dimensions. Four one-day experiments were conducted at the beach using box-shaped scale models. We tested 32 building geometries, where scale model height, width and length ranged between 0.3 and 2.0 m. The deposition patterns were substantial in size: the total length and width of the deposition area were up to an order of magnitude larger than the horizontal building dimensions. It was found that the size of upwind and downwind deposition patterns depended more on the building width perpendicular to the wind direction (w), than on the building height (h). Building length had little influence. Especially the combined effect of w and h correlated well with horizontal deposition size. This is expressed in a new scaling length B for deposition around buildings, with B=w2/3·h1/3. As a first validation, the spatial dimensions of the initial deposition patterns observed around a scale model of 2.5 × 12 × 2.5 m, placed at the beach for five weeks, showed good agreement with those predicted based on B.

Nebkha development and sediment supply

This study examines the role of sediment supply in controlling the formation and the spatial patterns of nebkha, numbers and sizes, present in foredunes fronting coastal dunefields of the arid northwest African and the Canary Islands coasts. Sediment supply is estimated qualitatively and quantitatively by various measures, and the number and size of nebkhas are obtained on a range of beach-dune systems. In the case of the Canary Islands, LiDAR data and orthophotos with high spatial resolution (0.25 m) are used to measure sediment supply/activity, nebkha numbers and sizes, and vegetation variables, whereas data availability is less on the African coast. Results show that sediment supply exerts a major control on nebkha development such that as sediment supply increases, the number of coastal nebkha decreases, and the size of individual plants/nebkha increases. Once sediment supply is large, nebkha can only form on the immediate backshore if space is available, and a point is reached when the sediment supply is so large that nebkha do not, or cannot form. The data presented here provide two indicators which could be applicable to other dune systems. Firstly, by estimating the number of nebkha and the vegetation cover, the degree of aeolian sedimentary activity or sediment supply might be estimated. Secondly, the type of aeolian landform present provides a qualitative indication of sediment supply and aeolian activity.

Assessment of the Restoration of the Remolar Dune System (Viladecans, Barcelona): The Resilience of a Coastal Dune System

The Remolar beach-dune system (700 m long and more than 100 m wide, 070N direction) borders a campground that was closed (2003), due to the Barcelona airport expansion. In order to recover and restore the dune ecosystem, a series of soft measures were performed. After 10 years, a study of the morphology, sedimentology, and vegetation of the ecosystem was carried out to evaluate the results of these measures. For this purpose, a series of topographic and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles, grain-size analysis, and an analysis of plant communities found along the profiles were carried out. The data obtained were compared with data from a former 2004 study. The results show that the morphology of the dunes recovered, and a new primary dune has arisen. The system now has a greater process of aggradation than of progradation. The vegetation has recovered the global composition of dune systems, with a typical community of embryo dunes and others of primary dunes that are set in strips parallel to the coast. Despite this improvement, the opportunistic and ruderal component in the primary dune vegetation evidences a strong anthropic inheritance in the system.

Metrics for short-term coastal characterization, protection and planning decisions of Sentina Natural Reserve, Italy

Geomorphological and sedimentological surveys of the emerged and submerged beach-dune system are fundamental for a successful management and protection strategies for coastal planning and development. In particular, these surveys can reveal if coastal areas are affected by erosion, pollution and loss of habitats under the seasonal anthropic pressure related to tourism, leisure and professional fishing, urbanisation and/or other activities impacting the coastal marine resources.In the present study we discuss the results of the multidisciplinary monitoring activities carried out within the Sentina Natural Reserve (Municipality of San Benedetto del Tronto, Adriatic side of Central Italy, at the south-eastern end of the Marche Region) proposing an exportable methodological approach. Due to the absence of buildings, the study area has not been considered in the coastal protection plan by regional and local authorities and, as a consequence, it is currently exposed to severe coastal erosion, the rate of which has been more precisely determined during the present study. This monitoring testifies that most of the seaward surface of the beach disappeared resulting in a general set back of the whole beach environment. In the last decades, several restoration strategies have been adopted to protect and restore the dunes and the back dunes habitats and the municipality also carried out an emergency action to nourish the beach, including the use of sand dredged from the nearby city harbor.With this sediment management approach, a tradeoff between safety of navigation of harbor inlet and habitat conservation of Natural Reserve have been reached, since beach nourishment can reduce coastal vulnerability and risk, even though its sustainability in the long term is still debated.

Spatiotemporal analysis of the impact of artificial beach structures on biogeomorphological processes in an arid beach-dune system

The research hypothesis considered in this study is that decisions adopted on beach use and management in arid environments can result in significant changes in the biogeomorphological processes of the beach-dune system of which it forms part. Different information sources and geographical information systems were used to make a spatiotemporal analysis of possible correlations between the presence of beach equipment, services and uses in the backshore area of an arid beach-dune system, such as the beach named Playa del Inglés (Gran Canaria island, Spain) and environmental changes detected in the same area. The period considered in the study covers from 1961 (before the development of the mass tourism on the island) to 2018. Significant variations in vegetation cover over the course of the study period were detected, as well as an overall increase in erosion (topographic and erosive aeolian landforms) and foredune fragmentation and a decrease in geomorphological resilience. The study found not only relationships between management decisions and environmental impacts, but also that environmental impacts of management decisions on beach use made in the 1970s and 1980s continue to be felt today. Moreover, the results also reinforce the idea that management decisions made based on the results of scientific research studies (management-research binomial) can lead to more environmentally sustainable actions.

Assessment of beach erosion susceptibility based on geo-indicators and soft management policies: a Patagonian case study (Argentina)

Puerto Madryn city (Chubut province, Argentina) has strongly increased its population since 1970, but a lack of coastal management strategies has favored physical changes in the natural landscape. This situation has led to a deficit in sediment supply sources, which increases beach erosion susceptibility. This paper aims to evaluate beach erosion susceptibility through the use of geo-indicators. It also provides a susceptibility map based on geomorphological evidence and the weighting of physical geo-indicators. The final objective is to propose soft solutions that consider a comprehensive coastal management. The main anthropogenic disturbances identified were beach cleaning with bulldozer, coastal armoring, removal of dune fields (about 90% between 1942 and 2019), foredune segmentation, installation of resorts on backshore, and artificial rainfall drains towards the beach. The natural and most sensitive geo-indicators affected by human pressure—and thus the most useful for determining susceptibility—were foredune conservation and width, and backshore width. We estimate a high to moderate susceptibility to beach erosion along the coast of Puerto Madryn. As regards management policies, we propose mainly restoration, prevention, and adaptation strategies, such as the use of sand fences and new techniques for beach cleaning, all of which are aimed at promoting sedimentary balance within the dune-beach system. Besides these procedures, we recommend the consideration of preventive actions, such as a future-oriented urban planning and a program to raise popular awareness of coastal problems. The diagnostic approach based on a geo-indicator survey has provided a useful tool to help decision-making in coastal conservation initiatives.

Caracterización del proceso histórico de balnearización del frente litoral de Puerto Madryn (Chubut) desde sus inicios hasta la actualidad

The objective of this paper was to analyze the occupation of the coastline of Puerto Madryn, province of Chubut, from its foundation to the present day. It describes the process of seaside resort development and identifies the different models of facilities built on the beach. For this purpose, a bibliographic and photographic review and a documentary search were carried out and events, actions and social processes that have modified the coastline from 1865 were recorded. The geo-historical approach complemented by Dagwood's "sandwich" methodology was applied. The compilation of facts and specific actions for the occupation of the studied waterfront allowed the identification of a continuous process of coastal transformation. Six temporal sections were distinguished; they illustrate relevant changes in the processes of anthropic intervention on this space: 1865-1914, 1915-1929; 1930-1959; 1960-1979; 1980-1999, 2000-present. It is concluded that the occupation of the coastline and the consequent territorial transformation has been taking place with greater intensity for over two decades through a sustained process of coastal seaside resort development and its associated impacts. The seaside resort models described in this study lay the foundations for the proposal of actions for the sustainable occupation of the dune-beach system in Puerto Madryn's waterfront.

THE EFFECT OF BUILDING GEOMETRY ON AEOLIAN DEPOSITION AND EROSION PATTERNS: A FIELD EXPERIMENT

Buildings at the beach-dune interface, such as restaurants and (holiday) houses, affect wind-driven sand transport in their surroundings. Hereby they shape the development of the beach-dune system. This can have implications for the flood protection offered by dunes. Therefore, this research aims to understand the effect of buildings at the beach-dune interface on beach-dune morphology. In this contribution we present the results of a field experiment which focused on the effect of building size and geometry on the size and location of the deposition patterns directly around buildings.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/hlcMP7Ev1m0

Two years and two hurricanes later: Did the dunes recover?

In many places along the U.S. East and Gulf of Mexico coasts, barrier islands are the first line of defense against extreme weather events threatening our coastlines. The trademark of these barrier islands are sand dunes that are intricately bound, from a sedimentary perspective, to the beach. Coastal storms, such as Hurricanes Matthew (2016), Irma and Maria (2017), and Florence (2018) have devastating impacts on these environments. This study investigated the volumetric changes of an anthropogenic and controlled beach-dune system on Isle of Palms, South Carolina, for approximately one year following Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Irma (2017). This research reveals that these systems did not recover. The average loss of sand at the beach was -15.5% (nv = -0.89), whereas the dunes gained an average of 13.3% (nv = 0.79), when compared to the already diminished post-storm volumes. When considering the pre-Hurricane Irma to pre-Hurricane Florence temporal period, the recovery percentages for the anthropogenic and control dunes was -15.5% and -40.1%, respectively, suggesting a net loss of sand. Cumulative storms, such as those experienced on the coast of South Carolina and many other coasts, pose a substantial threat to the long-term viability of coastal dune systems. However, recovery at the control site in the form of incipient foredune growth is promising. This paper concludes with a list of influencing factors to dune recovery.

150 years of foredune initiation and evolution driven by human and natural processes

Foredunes are efficient natural coastal defenses acting as protective barriers during storm events. They also have the capacity to be an ecosystem hosting significant biodiversity. The economic development and/or recreational use of the foredune commonly results in a modification of natural functioning and the concomitant mixing of natural and anthropogenic processes. While the impact of human interventions on the short term evolution of coastal dunes is reasonably well understood, relatively less is known on their imprint at a scale of several decades. The Truc Vert beach-dune system (SW France), which has been exposed to various dune management strategies for more than a century, provides a relevant site to explore the respective contributions of natural and anthropogenic processes on coastal foredune evolution and the current coastal dune landscape. For this purpose, the coastal dune system was investigated using several approaches that combine ground penetrating radar (GPR), topographic data, aerial photographs and historical maps.A 20-m thick GPR sequence provides a stratigraphic record from which we detail ~150-year period of coastal dune change, including the initiation of the foredune. Results show a mixture of radar facies typical of natural aeolian erosion or deposition and radar facies that are the signature of human actions. These anthropogenic works include a large fence emplaced in 1860 to build and fix the foredune, and intense mechanical reshaping of the dune profile by bulldozers in 1972 followed by an intensive planting of vegetation. These various management strategies had a profound influence on coastal dune changes and, in turn, on the current coastal dune landscape. Historic archives documenting coastal dune works were critical to discriminate some of the radar facies, which could be wrongfully interpreted as natural erosion or deposition facies. Therefore, these results demonstrate the importance of coupling GPR and historical documentation wherever possible to determine, in part or fully, the contributions of human interventions and actions in modern dune evolution and morphological development.

Morphological and Textural Characteristics of the Beach-dune System in South Korea, with the Possibility of a Dune Type Scheme Based on Grain-size Trend

Morphological and Textural Characteristics of the Beach-dune System in South Korea, with the Possibility of a Dune Type Scheme Based on Grain-size Trend

Exploring foredune growth capacity in a coarse sandy beach

Dunes are key elements of coastal landscapes in almost every latitude. They host high levels of biodiversity and provide important benefits to society; e.g. protection against floods and erosion, or recreation. Coastal dune growth is constrained by intrinsic factors, which are critical when managing dune systems or choosing coastal dune restoration as an alternative green solution for coastal protection. Here, the evolution of a beach-dune system, characterized by a reflective coarse sandy beach and low dunes, is explored to identify the favourable and optimal conditions for dune growth in these settings. Dune growth capacity is evaluated by analysing the topographical changes observed along a coastal dune over two different temporal scales (interannual and event scale) and comparing the observations with theoretical approximations of sediment transport potentials. Observations and predictions over interannual scale document that (1) temporal variability in external conditions (wind regime) and spatial variability of estimated wind fetch length, alone, fail to explain alongshore dune growth patterns and (2) optimal conditions for dune growth occur when storms (strong winds) impact the study area, jointly with low runup levels, at zones of shoreline progradation and absence of direct human influence. Conversely, lowest values of dune accumulation are associated with areas where shoreline retreat was documented. Observations from event timescales suggest that sediment transport potential can be reached over zones with no significant signs of beach erosion, if runup levels remain low and the event duration is shorter than the time scale of sand surface depletion within the upper beach.

Combined effect of plastic litter and increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition on vegetative propagules of dune plants: A further threat to coastal ecosystems

Large amounts of non-biodegradable plastics are currently deposited on beach-dune systems, and biodegradable plastics could enter these already declining habitats in coming years. Yet, the impacts of plastics on vegetative recruitment, a plant strategy playing a key role in dune stabilization, are unknown. Whether these pollutants interact with increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, a major global driver of plant biodiversity loss, in affecting plant communities of such nutrient-poor habitats, and how plant-plant interactions mediate their effects need to be explored. In a one-year field experiments, we examined individual and combined effects of plastic (non-biodegradable, biodegradable), N deposition (ambient, elevated) and biotic condition (no interaction, interaction with a conspecific or with a hetero-specific) on the colonization success and growth of vegetative propagules of dune plants. Thinopyrum junceum and Sporobolus pumilus were chosen as models because they co-occur along Mediterranean dunes and differ in ecological role (dune- vs. non dune-building) and photosynthetic pathway (C3 vs. C4). For both species, survival probability was reduced by non-biodegradable plastic and elevated N by up to 100%. Thinopyrum junceum survival was also reduced by S. pumilus presence. Elevated N and biodegradable plastic reduced T. junceum shoot biomass when grown alone and with a conspecific, respectively; these factors in combination mitigated their negative individual effects on root biomass. Biodegradable plastic increased S. pumilus shoot and root biomass, and in combination with elevated N caused a greater biomass investment in belowground (root plus rhizome) than aboveground organs. Non-biodegradable plastic may be a further threat to dune habitats by reducing plant colonization. Biodegradable plastic and increased N deposition could favour the generalist S. pumilus and hinder the dune-building T. junceum. These findings highlight the urgency of implementing measures for preventing plastic deposition on beaches and reducing N input.

Beach-dune morphodynamics and marine macro-litter abundance: An integrated approach with Unmanned Aerial System

This work shows an integrated approach for coastal environmental monitoring, which aimed to understand the relation between beach-dune morphodynamics, marine litter abundance and environmental forcing. Three unmanned aerial system (UAS) flights were deployed on a beach-dune system at the Atlantic Portuguese coast to assess two main goals: (i) quantifying the morphological changes that occurred among flights, with focus on dune erosion, and (ii) mapping the changes of marine macro-litter abundance on the shore.Two most vulnerable-to-erosion sectors of the beach were identified. In the northern sector, the groin affected the downdrift shoreline, with dune erosion of about 1 m. In the central part of the beach, the dunes recessed about 4 m during the winter, being more exposed to environmental forcing due to the absence of dune vegetation.Marine litter occupation area on the beach decreased from 25% to 20% over the winter, with octopus pots (13%) and fragments (69%) being the most abundant items on average. Litter distribution varied in relation to swash elevation, wind speed and direction. With low swash elevation, the wind played a predominant role in moving the stranded items northwards, whereas high swash elevation concentrated the items at the dune foot.This study emphasizes the potential of UAS in allowing an integrated approach for coastal erosion monitoring and marine litter mapping, and set the ground for marine litter dynamic modelling on the shore.

Longshore drift produced by climate-modulated monsoons and typhoons in the South China Sea

Abstract Monsoons and typhoons impact the tropical coastal zones through their signature on winds and waves, leading to increased vulnerability – through erosion, marine submersion and flooding – of an ever growing coastal population. This study addresses wave-driven coastal impacts in the South China Sea (SCS), particularly along the Vietnam coast. Using 38 years of offshore wave fields from ERA-Interim reanalysis, we assess the seasonal and interannual variability of wave patterns, storminess, and wave-induced alongshore sediment transport (longshore drift). Results suggest a large seasonal coastal impact due to high-energy, northeasterly waves generated by winter monsoon winds. The net annual sediment transport is southward with significant interannual and decadal variations (20% standard deviation with particular years at 40% of the mean), presenting strong correlations with the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) regime changes. The regime shift of 1998, from a warm to a cold PDO phase characterized by more La Nina events, is associated with an increase in winter wave energy and thus higher sediment transport (about 10%). The typhoon activity in the SCS is partly associated with that of the Pacific Northwest basin, but as a large semi-enclosed sea, presents local differences. It is positively correlated with La Nina in summer and with El Nino Modoki in winter. The summer correlation to ENSO phases is opposite to that of the whole Northwest Pacific due to competing local and remote mechanisms driving cyclone formation and trajectory. For the same reason, the effects of ENSO and PDO phases are opposite in the SCS: during the last cold PDO phase, typhoon frequency was reduced by 20%, with significant net impact on estimated sediment transport. The typhoon contribution to sediment transport is a 15% reinforcement of southward transport due essentially to winter activity. If winter monsoon and typhoons appear to work together on average, their low-frequency variability are out-of-phase. This is particularly clear at decadal scale, as cold PDO phases seem favorable to strong winter monsoon waves but detrimental to SCS typhoon numbers. These results confirm that regional climate variability (together with human factors affecting river sediment supply, coastal management of beach-dune systems, land subsidence, mangrove deforestation) is an essential part of coastal vulnerability that needs to be better assessed.

A holistic approach to evaluating dune cores

As population density increases in coastal counties, shoreline stabilization efforts continue to gain momentum to protect infrastructure. Although protection techniques vary from ‘soft’ to ‘hard’ engineering, this paper focuses on a ‘hybrid’ technique utilizing geotubes as artificial dune cores. Previous literature presents conflicting results on the efficacy and potential impacts of dune cores on a beach-dune system. Here we evaluate and quantify the geomorphic impacts following dune core installation and investigate their economic feasibility. This was completed by comparing five case studies: Sea Isle City, NJ; Bolivar Peninsula, TX; Grand Isle, LA; Santa Rosa Beach, FL; and Nantucket Island, MA. An economic assessment was completed to compare dune core installation costs and repairs to alternative shoreline hardening methods. LiDAR data were used to compare dune slope, beach width, and beach volume between digital transects adjacent to and in front of the dune core installations. Digital elevation models (DEMs) were generated to provide a holistic view of geomorphic change and to assess whether erosion occurred landward of the dune core. Results indicate that dune cores are an economically feasible option compared to alternative methods. Limitations include UV exposure, wave influence, and heavy winds. Morphologically, beach width was 29.1% wider in adjacent transects and dune slope was 39.1% steeper in front of the dune core. Beach volume was lower by an overall average of 23.4%. The findings from this study suggest that dune cores are a ‘hard’ or ‘grey’ protection method.

Beach-dune Recovery from the Extreme 2013-2014 Storms Erosion at Truc Vert Beach, Southwest France: New Insights from Ground-penetrating Radar

Robin, N.; Billy, J.; Castelle, B.; Hesp, P.; Laporte-Fauret, Q.; Nicolae-Lerma, A.; Marieu, V.; Rosebery, D.; Bujan, S.; Destribats, B., and Michalet., 2020. Beach-dune recovery from the extreme 2013-2014 storms erosion at Truc Vert Beach, Southwest France: New insights from ground-penetrating radar. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 588–592. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Foredunes are efficient natural coastal defenses acting as protective barriers during storm events. A striking example is the response of coastal dunes along the Aquitaine Coast (SW France) to the 2013-2014 winter, which was the most energetic winter since at least the mid-20th century in most of the NE Atlantic. The aim of this study is to analyze the (partial) foredune recovery from the 2013-2014 winter at Truc Vert beach using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and through the coastal dune internal structure. Geophysical data was compared with semi-monthly DGPS topographic data of the beach, UAV-photogrammetry and Airborne LiDAR surveys of the coastal dune. Three main recovery phases were identified from the 2013-2014 winter: (i) aggradation of the upper-beach and dune front-crest during the post-storm summer; (ii) distinct phases of incipient dune-foot development with dune-crest stability during the following year, and (iii) since 2016, aggradation of both dune-foot and dune front-crest tending towards an equilibrium profile. This study shows that GPR surveys, combined with chronological topographic data, is an efficient tool to provide comprehensive understanding of the beach-dune system evolution at a decadal scale. This approach opens new perspectives to document foredune recovery timing and magnitude along sandy coasts.

A three-dimensional laboratory investigation of beach morphology change during a storm event

This study provides laboratory observations of the nearshore hydrodynamics and detailed topographic surveys associated with the morphological response of a beach-dune system to oblique waves during a storm event. A physical model consisting of a 20 m long sandy steep beach constructed in a wave basin, and a wave paddle oriented obliquely to the beach shoreline is used to generate irregular waves at the offshore boundary. In the experiment, the wave height is varied over time in five segments to simulate the change in the energy from a passing storm and is varied alongshore to initiate an alongshore gradient in waves and wave-driven currents. To simulate a constant storm surge, a high mean water level relative to the dune is used, enabling waves to reach the dune toe. The results indicate the formation and evolution of a beach scarp. The retreat of the scarp initially corresponds to time-varying wave energy, but becomes controlled by the changing nearshore beach slope over time. The alongshore current magnitude is governed by the spatio-temporal variability in wave energy and is the main driver of sediment flux. The sand that is eroded from the dune initially deposits at the dune toe when nearshore circulation is weak. However, as the wave energy increases sediment is transported along the beach and is deposited, increasing the surf zone width. The experimental results indicate that small waves at high water levels relative to the dune can drive the formation of a beach scarp. In addition, different levels of incident wave energy drive different rates of sediment transport and morphological evolution with high alongshore variability throughout a storm event.

Interactive Geomorphological Resilience of Sediment Pathways and Coastal Features, Post-Hurricane Sandy, Fort Tilden, New York

Psuty, N.P.; Ames, K.; Liu, G., and Habeck, A., 2020. Interactive geomorphological resilience of sediment pathways and coastal features, post-Hurricane Sandy, Fort Tilden, New York. Journal of Coastal Research, 36(4), 694–708. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Geomorphological resilience is an essential concept in dynamic coastal systems, incorporating the recovery and regeneration of the dune/beach system and the interaction between these systems, anthropogenic forces, and ecological factors. Recovery of the coastal geomorphological system at the Fort Tilden site after Hurricane Sandy was influenced by the wooden bulkhead and the variety of groins interacting with the sediment budget. Monitoring of the recovery revealed that the alongshore coastal dune/beach system response (one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional metrics) was strongly related to the 11 groin sectors and that the total volume losses increased downdrift. Hurricane Sandy resulted in a general inland displacement of the dune feature along the entire site, mean of –32 m, and a landward displacement of the shoreline, mean of –3 m. There was a volumetric loss of 81,000 m3; 29,000 m3 of this was from the dune feature. Post-Sandy to Fall 2018, the dune was displaced 2 m seaward and had a volumetric gain of 10,580 m3. Comparison of the dune displacement and sediment budget metric indicated that through the six-year recovery period, the dune feature was accumulating sediment but that it was not shifting seaward to its former position despite updrift beach nourishment totaling ∼3,180,000 m3 in the period 2010–18. The inland displacement and retention of the beach-dune system under a negative sediment budget is consistent with geomorphological theory, indicating a geomorphological resilience to rebuild while shifting inland. Accordingly, the former position of Shore Road along Fort Tilden is deemed unsuitable for reconstruction in place because of increased exposure in the Post-Sandy environment.