In general, though, the longer trend term appears to be to the south and west, 

 as reflected in changes on the nearby shoreline (Figure 28). North of the 

 cape, the shoreline movement has been one of retreat to the west, with the 

 greatest westward retreat nearest the cape. West of the cape, the shoreline 

 has prograded; this movement has occurred for a long time and is referenced in 

 a large number of east-west-trending ridges. Future shoreline changes north 

 and west of Cape Hatteras will likely be similar to those that have occurred 

 in the past. 



Shore face- connected 



ridges and shoreline change 



124. Shoreface-connected ridges also appear to significantly influence 

 the ocean shoreline in the study area. These linear ridges with a maximum of 

 10-m relief extend up to 10 km offshore from the shoreface in a northeast 

 direction; side slopes are usually not more than a few degrees. Fields of 

 such ridges are common from Long Island to Florida (Swift et al. 1972). Loca- 

 tions of the four shoreface-connected ridges along the east-facing ocean in 

 the study area are shown in Figure 54 and listed in the tabulation below. 



Name 



False Cape Shoal 

 Oregon Shoal 

 Wimble Shoal 

 Kinekeet Shoal 



Lat: 



Ltude 



36< 



>33' 



35 ( 



'52' 



35 « 



5 33' 



35< 



>23* 



125. The ridges intersect the shoreface about 5 km south of some of the 

 most prominant concave seaward shorelines in the study area (Figure 55). 

 Except at inlets, these are the major sites along the east-facing ocean reach 

 where the shore orientation varies greatly. The shoreline at and south of the 

 ridge intersection is generally convex in a seaward direction. In all cases 

 the site of the intersection is along a reach where the shoreline is rapidly 

 changing from a northwesterly to a northerly direction. 



126. Shoreline changes associated with the shoreface-connected ridges 

 are predictable. Shorelines north of ridge intersections retreated, while 

 those to the south usually prograded. One exception is south of Oregon Shoal 

 where the shoreline retreated, probably because of the influence of Oregon 

 Inlet. Shoreline changes adjacent to the ridge intersections appear to vary 

 with time in a relatively consistent manner. Data shown in Figures 30 and 31 

 suggest the ridge influence is moving south. 



103 



