Consider also the ingenious mechanism by which barrier islands act to protect themselves during severe storms. As large waves carry sand seaward, sand bars are formed. These offshore sandbars act to reduce the energy of powerful waves. The coarse sand present in these sandbars can absorb tons of pressure and prevent wholesale destruction of the island. However, man has altered much of the natural cycle in the life of a barrier island and here's where problems occur.
People love living by the sea and barrier islands are no exception.
Perhaps you've seen pictures of houses falling in the sea along the east coast, especially during hurricanes. That's because strong waves act to carry away sand and anything attached to the sand. To combat this, man has built seawalls and jetties. Seawalls have a different but equally destructive effect. Because they are rigid, seawalls tend to reflect all of the energy of waves, increasing erosion and accelerating the speed of the longshore current.