We explored if coastal dunes of North Padre Island (South Texas Gulf Coast) preserved a record of climatic signals. We based the study in granulometric analysis of vibracores through the center of the dunes. Our results suggested a link between sand transported to the dune by the winds, from different depths along the beach profile, and tropical storm activity over the western Gulf of Mexico. We also related the sand deposition with climatic variability in the temperatures of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
This is a collaborative work with James Garrison, Jr. that started while he was at the Center for Water Supply Studies and involved several faculty and students from TAMUCC. For more details of the study see the reference below.
Reference:
Garrison, Jr., J.R., A.M. Mestas-Nuñez, J.R. Williams, and L.M. Lumb, 2012. Can beach dune ridges of the Texas Gulf Coast preserve climate signals? Geo-Marine Letters, 32, 241-250, doi:10.1007/s00367-011-0263-x pdf