- The land mass was spotted by a team from the University of Georgia and christened Little Blackbeard Island
- Dr Marguerite Madden said that huge storms often cause ‘dramatic changes in a short amount of time’
- Geologists said the ‘bridge’ of land in Georgia had been eroding for decades but Irma accelerated the process
Scientists have discovered a 100-acre island off the coast of Georgia which was carved by last autumn’s deadly Hurricane Irma.
The furious storm ripped through the Atlantic last September, leaving a trail of destruction behind.
And recently-recorded drone footage reveals that the strong winds – which reached up to 185mph – helped shift a sand bar to create a new isolated piece of land which has been christened Little Blackbeard Island.
Scientists have discovered a 100 acre island off the coast of Georgia which was carved by the fury of Hurricane Irma
![This Google Earth photo shows how the island looked before the deadly storm ripped through the Atlantic last September, with a narrow strip of sand connecting it to another land mass](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/05/10/4AD76D0400000578-0-image-a-37_1522920519971.jpg)
This Google Earth photo shows how the island looked before the deadly storm ripped through the Atlantic last September, with a narrow strip of sand connecting it to another land mass
Researchers at the University of Georgia told FOX 13 News that the relentless gales blew out a strip of narrow land that once extended south from Blackbeard Island toward Sapelo Island.
In turn, a small island was formed but it is only now that aerial photos have shown this new land mass.
Dr Marguerite Madden, who is a professor at the University of Georgia and director of the Center for Geospatial Research, explained: ‘The areas are very dynamic because it’s sandy.
‘It’s not unusual. Storms can cause dramatic changes in a short amount of time.’
![Researchers at the University of Georgia said that the relentless gales blew out a strip of narrow land that once extended south from Blackbeard Island toward Sapelo Island (above, an aerial photo shows the connecting strip)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/05/10/4AD76D0000000578-0-image-a-40_1522920523072.jpg)
Researchers at the University of Georgia said that the relentless gales blew out a strip of narrow land that once extended south from Blackbeard Island toward Sapelo Island (above, an aerial photo shows the connecting strip)
![An aerial photo shows how the connecting strip now appears submerged by the Atlantic Ocean](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/05/12/4AD921D300000578-5581235-image-m-50_1522929221203.jpg)
An aerial photo shows how the connecting strip now appears submerged by the Atlantic Ocean
Photographs taken by Dr Madden and one of her colleagues show that Little Blackbeard Island has sweeping sand beaches with a grassy outcrop and woodland area in its central region.
The scientists accidentally discovered it while researching vegetation in the area.
Previously, as shown by Google Earth images taken before Hurricane Irma hit, the sandy outcrop was connected to Blackbeard Island by a thin strip of land.
Fred Hay, who helps manage Sapelo Island for the state Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division Geologists, told Savannah Now that this ‘bridge’ of land had been eroding for decades but Irma accelerated the process.
The connecting strip now appears submerged by the Atlantic Ocean.
Blackbeard Island and Sapelo Island are both state-protected pieces of land and run as a nature and forest preserves.
![Geologists said the 'bridge' of land (seen above) had been eroding for decades. Then, when Irma hit last autumn, the connecting strip was finally submerged by the Atlantic Ocean](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/05/10/4AD76CF700000578-0-image-a-44_1522920532467.jpg)
Geologists said the ‘bridge’ of land (seen above) had been eroding for decades. Then, when Irma hit last autumn, the connecting strip was finally submerged by the Atlantic Ocean
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