Ocean City Inlet, Maryland: a catalyst for coastal change

Ocean City Inlet is located along the microtidal Atlantic Ocean coastline of Maryland. The inlet was opened by a hurricane in 1933 and stabilized with a double jetty system in 1934. Dramatic shoreline recession has occurred downdrift of the inlet with accretion to the north. Analysis of these trends has led past researchers to conclude that inlet stabilization is the principal cause. Analysis of shoreline position change maps for the period 1849-1980 reveals that this area had been receding significantly prior to inlet stabilization. For the period 1849-1933, a 16km long recessional embayment was centered about 16km south of the present inlet. Maximum mean shoreline recession rates approached 4m/yr near the center of the embayment. During the period from 1933-1980, maximum mean recession rates south of the inlet approached 8m/yr. The measured recession rates of northern Assateague Island represent island migration, not erosion. The cartographic area has shown little change during the 130+ years of shoreline mapping. The coastal geomorphic changes observed at Ocean City represent response to long term coastal processes, perhaps re-adjustment due to the rise in Holocene sea-level. Ocean City Inlet may be a catalyst for the observed changes, exaggerating a pre-existing process-response system.