If you’ve never been to Cape Lookout National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina’s coast, then you should soon. This small barrier island, with the parks two historic villages, Portsmouth (est. 1753) and Cape Lookout (est. 1887), has managed to survive the Civil War, countless hurricanes and the test of time thus far. However, as Dr. Erin Seekamp and her research team have discovered, the threat of climate change has put this historic landmark’s future in danger.

Read the article on USGS’s website for an introduction to their research to protect one NC’s most cherished national parks.