How do small wind-shadow dunes become foredunes?

Small wind-shadow dunes, also known as coppice mounds, form on the backshore of a beach when wind-blown sediment is trapped by an obstruction. These small accumulations of sand can develop into foredunes—the seaward-most line of coastal dunes—provided that two conditions are met: there must be a continuous supply of sediment, and the mounds must not be destroyed by beach erosion.1

As these mounds grow and stabilize, often with the help of vegetation, they form the ridges that characterize the seaward edge of the coast. This process contributes to the progradation of the coast, where the shoreline effectively grows seaward over time.12