Sand dunes provide natural coastal protection against storm surge and high waves while preventing coastal flooding and providing important ecological habitat. A dune blowout is a gap in a dune caused by strong winds blowing sand out from under and around the vegetation, where loss of vegetation and loose sand can result in greater erosion of the dune. Over the last 10 years, coastal geomorphologist Dr. Paul Gares has been monitoring changes in dune blowouts within the Province Lands in Cape Cod National Seashore. Here, the crew obtained a permit from the park to join Dr. Gares in collecting topographic and wind data to monitor aeolian erosion.

The research crew heads to Sugar Loaf Island located in Morehead City, NC to conduct topographic surveys of the eroding shoreline. This baseline dataset will be used in conjunction with subsequent topographic and bathymetric surveys to gain a better understanding of onshore erosion and offshore sediment transport due to storms and dredging of the Beaufort Inlet channel.

Dr. Sirianni uses Adobe Illustrator to create a unique logo for the lab.