How do dunes protect from erosion?

• A. Dunes accelerate erosion by trapping sand.
• B. Dunes have no effect on erosion.
• C. Dunes act as natural barriers against wind and water erosion, stabilizing the shoreline and preventing loss of land.
• D. Dunes only provide habitat for animals and do not affect erosion.

Answer: (C)

Dunes protect shorelines by acting as natural buffers that absorb and slow the energy of wind and waves. The ridge of sand acts as a barrier, reducing the amount of wind-driven sand and wave impact that reaches inland, which helps prevent erosion of the beach and coastal land. Vegetation on the dunes, like grasses, roots the sand in place, enhancing stability and allowing the dune to trap and hold more sand rather than letting it be carried away. During storms, the dune’s shape and vegetation dissipate much of the wave energy and overwash, further protecting the shoreline behind it. Without this barrier, coastlines would erode more quickly and lose land to the sea.