Author(s)

J. T. Wells & J. E. McNinch

Abstract

Role of inlet dynamics in scour and burial of marine artifacts in energetic coastal settings J. T. wells' & J. E. ~ c ~ i n c h ~ 1 Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina-CH, USA 2 Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, USA Abstract Tidal inlets are among nature's most dynamic coastal environments, opening and closing in response to storms and, in some cases, migrating long distances back and forth across barrier island shorelines. Most inlets are fronted by a composite shoal system that forms a significant hazard to navigation and, indeed, many shipwrecks (e.g. mid-Atlantic Bight of U.S.) are associated with tidal inlets. For example, over 20 wrecks from a brief 5-year period in the mid-19" Century have been documented at or near tidal inlets along the North Carolina coast alone. Research on tidal inlet dynamics indicates that many of these wrecks are now threatened by a combination of inlet migration, wave scour, and subsequent settling and burial

Keywords