Barrier island migration refers to the landward, seaward, or alongshore translation of barrier island systems driven by sediment transport processes and relative sea-level change. It is governed by storm overwash, inlet formation and infilling, longshore sediment transport, and aeolian sand movement, which redistribute sediment across the shoreface, beach, dune, and back-barrier environments. Under rising sea level and high storm frequency, overwash and inlet breaching typically promote landward “rollover” of islands, while sediment surplus and progradation can drive seaward migration. Barrier island migration is a central topic in coastal morphodynamics, influencing shoreline resilience, habitat distribution, and coastal management strategies.
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