Cape Hatteras National Seashore Geologic Resources Inventory Report
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Cape Hatteras National Seashore Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2015/964 ON THE COVER Sea oats are a vital component to dune formation at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. National Park Service photograph. THIS PAGE The sun rises over Cape Point at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. National Park Service photograph. Cape Hatteras National Seashore Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2015/964 Courtney A. Schupp National Park Service Geologic Resources Division Geologic Resources Inventory PO Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225 May 2015 US Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. Printed copies of this report are produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is available from the Geologic Resources Inventory website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory/ gre_publications.cfm) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Schupp, C. A. 2015. Cape Hatteras National Seashore: Geologic Resources Inventory report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2015/964. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 603/128571, May 2015 ii NPS Geologic Resources Division Contents Lists of Figures and Tables ........................................................................................... iv Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... v Products and Acknowledgments ................................................................................. ix Geologic Setting and Significance ................................................................................ 1 Geologic and Environmental Features and Processes ................................................. 9 Oceanographic Conditions ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Sediment Transport Processes .................................................................................................................................... 11 Capes and Cape-Associated Shoals ............................................................................................................................ 13 Inlets ......................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Estuaries .................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Freshwater Aquifer .................................................................................................................................................... 18 Barrier Island Evolution and Behavior .......................................................................................................................... 20 Simple and Complex Barrier Island Model ................................................................................................................... 23 Geologic Influences on Island Habitats ....................................................................................................................... 25 Barrier Island System Unit Mapping ............................................................................................................................ 26 Barrier Island System Units (East Carolina University Field Survey Map) ........................................................................ 26 Barrier Island System Units (North Carolina Geological Survey Remote Sensing Map) ................................................... 38 Paleontological Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 40 Geologic Resource Management Issues ..................................................................... 43 Shoreline Erosion ....................................................................................................................................................... 43 Coastal Vulnerability and Sea-Level Rise...................................................................................................................... 44 Hurricane Impacts and Human Responses .................................................................................................................. 49 Inlet Modifications ..................................................................................................................................................... 51 Recreational and Watershed Land Use ....................................................................................................................... 55 Coastal Engineering and Shoreline Armoring .............................................................................................................. 60 Highway 12 Transportation Corridor .......................................................................................................................... 61 Geomorphic Mapping ................................................................................................................................................ 62 Paleontological Resource Inventory, Monitoring, and Protection ................................................................................. 62 Additional Information Needs .................................................................................................................................... 63 Geologic History .......................................................................................................... 65 Miocene (23 million to 5.3 million years ago) ............................................................................................................. 65 Pliocene (5.3 million to 2.6 million years ago) ............................................................................................................. 65 Quaternary (2.6 million years ago to present) ............................................................................................................. 65 Geologic Map Data ...................................................................................................... 71 Geologic Maps .......................................................................................................................................................... 71 Source Maps .............................................................................................................................................................. 71 GRI GIS Data .............................................................................................................................................................. 71 GRI Map Posters ........................................................................................................................................................ 72 Map Unit Properties Tables ........................................................................................................................................ 72 Use Constraints .......................................................................................................................................................... 72 Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 73 Literature Cited ...........................................................................................................