Painter is on the mainland portion of the peninsula of eastern Virginia. The lagoons to the right extend seaward some 15 kilometers. There the barrier islands are found. VCR is one of the most dynamic of all the LTER sites. Sea level change of a few centimeters over a several years can alter tree species dominance in the estuarine upland.
Storms are particularly important.
A major storm can convert vegetated dunes to unvegetated open beach in a single event. They play a continual role in shaping and reshaping the landscape of the islands. Species composition on the islands is closely related to the frequencies of coastal storms that move sea watere and sand across the islands. Low temperatures are not usually a constraint upon plant growth. Growing season can exceed 250 days.