Exploring North Carolina’s Barrier Islands: A Field Visit for Beach & Island Geological Processes

There’s something special about studying barrier islands in person—where the wind, sand, and rhythmic waves bring coastal processes to life. As part of my Beach and Island Geological Processes class at Duke, I recently spent three days exploring the barrier islands around Cape Lookout, investigating coastline dynamics, dune formation, sediment transport, and the impact of development on these ever-changing landscapes.

From massive dunes and textbook sediment structures to pristine shorelines, ghost forests, and even a surprise dolphin encounter, this field visit was an incredible reminder of why barrier islands are such fascinating and important systems to study.

Day 1: Exploring Developed Barrier Islands (Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, Atlantic Beach)

Our trip started with a visit to Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, and Atlantic Beach—all located on Bogue Banks, a developed barrier island. 

Walking along the shoreline, I saw firsthand the delicate balance between human infrastructure and natural coastal processes. Beachfront homes and roads stood as a stark contrast to the shifting dunes and shorelines. These developed islands highlight the challenges of coastal resilience, as rising sea levels and storm impacts threaten infrastructure built on an inherently dynamic landscape.

We ended the day at the Duke University Marine Lab (DUML), where we had dinner and a lecture on barrier island evolution. With this background, I was even more excited to get out into the field and explore undeveloped barrier islands over the next two days.

Day 2: Cape Lookout – A Dynamic, Undeveloped Barrier Island & My First Dune

The second day took us offshore to Cape Lookout, a largely undeveloped barrier island shaped purely by natural forces. We took a boat from Harkers Island and landed on Cape Lookout’s expansive beaches, rolling dunes, and historic lighthouse.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Cape Lookout is its history of separation from the mainland. Once connected, natural processes such as storm-driven overwash, inlet migration, and sediment transport gradually isolated it. Seeing this in person reinforced just how fluid and ever-changing barrier islands really are.

Seeing My First Dune!

One of the most exciting moments of this trip? Seeing my very first dune!

I’ve read about dunes, studied their role in barrier island systems, and seen plenty of photos—but standing in front of one was something else entirely. There’s something incredible about realizing just how much history is layered within the ridges. It was a powerful moment that reinforced the importance of dune stabilization, sediment deposition, and long-term barrier island evolution.

Seeing Erosional Layers for the First Time: A Geology Moment

Later that day, I came across an exposed sand scarp, revealing striking layered sediment deposition.

The layers were perfect examples of the principles of original horizontality and superposition, showing how wind, waves, and storms deposit and shape sediment over time. Seeing these formations up close—not just in diagrams—deepened my understanding of how barrier islands evolve.

This feature was a stark reminder that coastal landscapes are constantly in motion. While these layers tell a story of past depositional events, the same forces that built them will eventually erode, reshape, and redeposit that sand somewhere else.

Walking Out Onto the Shoal: A Landscape of Endless Sand

One of the most striking parts of the day was walking out onto the shoal. It felt like stepping into an entirely different world—just miles and miles of sand, stretching as far as the eye could see. The landscape was so vast and open that it almost didn’t feel real. Seeing this much exposed sediment highlighted just how much material is constantly moving and reshaping these islands.

Ripples in the Sand: A Closer Look at Sediment Transport

Another fascinating feature I observed on the Cape was beautifully formed ripple marks in the sand. These delicate, wavy patterns are created by the movement of water over loose sediment, shaping the sand into ridges and troughs.

Seeing these ripple marks in person highlighted just how active and dynamic this system is. These structures are a record of wave and tidal currents, providing clues about flow direction, sediment movement, and depositional processes.

Day 3: Shackleford Banks – A Pristine Barrier Island, Ghost Forests & Dolphins

If I had to pick a highlight of the trip, Shackleford Banks would be it. This pristine barrier island offered an untouched glimpse into the natural progression of coastal landscapes, free from development.

Our hike took us from the ocean-facing beach to the sound-side marshes, giving us a chance to see how barrier islands transition across different ecological zones. From rolling dunes to maritime forests and salt marshes, it was incredible to witness the natural progression of habitats (plus it was great for shell hunting!).

Ghost Forests: A Sign of Barrier Island Change

One of the most striking features we encountered on Shackleford Banks was a ghost forest—a collection of dead trees left standing after rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion killed off the vegetation.

Ghost forests are a stark reminder of how climate change and coastal processes are reshaping barrier islands. As sea levels rise and storms push saltwater further inland, these once-thriving maritime forests become unable to survive. Seeing these skeletal trees in person was a powerful visual representation of the long-term impacts of climate change on barrier island ecosystems.

Dolphins to End the Trip!

As if the experience wasn’t already unforgettable, we ended the day with an unexpected dolphin sighting! Watching them swim near the pristine shores of Shackleford Banks was the perfect way to wrap up our fieldwork.

Connecting to My PhD Research

This trip wasn’t just about seeing new places—it was a chance to connect field observations to my PhD research on barrier island evolution.

My work focuses on how these landscapes interact with both natural forces (storms, sea level rise, sediment transport) and human development. Seeing undeveloped vs. developed barrier islands in person reinforced how these systems respond differently to change.

Observing dune structures, wave dynamics, and shorelines firsthand helped me think about how these features could be represented in modeling barrier island change.

Final Thoughts: A Field Experience Like No Other!

Leaving the coast, I felt energized and inspired by everything we had seen. Nothing compares to standing on an active barrier island, feeling the wind shape the dunes, and seeing the landscape shift beneath your feet.

This trip reinforced the importance of studying these fragile yet resilient systems—not just for research, but for the coastal communities and ecosystems that rely on them.