Barrier island geomorphology, hydrodynamic modelling, and historical shoreline changes: an example from South Uist and Benbecula, Scottish Outer Hebrides

Abstract Dawson, A.G.; Gomez, C.; Ritchie, W.; Batstone, C.; Lawless, M.; Rowan, J.S.; Dawson, S.; Mcilveny, J.; Bates, R., and Muir, D., 2012. Barrier island geomorphology, hydrodynamic modelling, and historical shoreline changes: an example from South Uist and Benbecula, Scottish Outer Hebrides. A partly quantitative reconstruction is provided of the evolution of Gualan Island, a barrier island located between South Uist and Benbecula in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, using historical maps, aerial photographs, and Lidar (light detection and ranging) data. Geomorphological changes over the last approximately 200 years are described together with quantitative changes in the dimension of the barrier island, including rates of shoreline retreat. A series of digital terrain models (DTMs) provided the boundary conditions for a two-dimensional (2D) ocean circulation tide-surge model simulating water level and wave conditions associated with a highly destructive storm that took place during January 2005. During t...