Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-5-2026
Abstract
As climate variability continues to impact the environment, coastal landscapes are becoming increasingly vulnerable to geomorphic change. Coastal erosion, accentuated by rising sea levels, land subsidence, more intense storms and human-induced activities, poses a serious threat to the short-term resilience of coastal communities, like Smith Island, a small, marsh-based island located in the Chesapeake Bay. This study investigates the impacts of environmental stressors along a 2.2 km longshore segment of the Maryland segment of Smith Island. Rates of change reveal a dominant erosional pattern in which 55% of the coast is losing land at a rate of -0.08 m/yr. Models suggest that the shoreline will continue to retreat at a rate of -0.16 m/yr. to the year 2030.
Recommended Citation
Lacy, Sarah, "Quantifying the Rates of Coastal Change along Smith Island, Maryland" (2026). Longwood Senior Theses. 49.
https://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/senior_theses/49
