PROCESS FORM RELATIONSHIPS ON USA EAST-COAST BARRIER ISLANDS

US east coast barrier island morphology is in a large part a response to coastal processes. The explanation of spatial and morphometric vari ability of these barrier islands is their response to these different process (e. g. wave, tidal) regimes. One hundred and nineteen such bar rier islands were analysed via two statistical methods - factor analys is and canonical correlation. Through the former, five classes of isla nds were identified based on morphometric characteristics. For each cl ass, canonical correlation identified relationships between island con figurations and significant dynamic processes. The numerical model qua ntitatively corroborated previous hypotheses concerning the role of pr ocess variables to barrier island morphology.