How do Spits, Bars and Tombolos form?

Spits are created by deposition. A spit is an extended stretch of beach material that projects out to sea and is joined to the mainland by one end.

Spits are formed when the prevailing wind blows at an angle to the coastline, resulting in Long Shore Drift.

The development of a spurnhead:  

1. Longshore Drift ,moves material along the coastline

2. A spit is formed whgen material is depsoited

3. Overtime the spit grows and develops a hook  is wind direction changes

4. Waves cannot get past a spit, which creates a sheltered area where slit is deposited and mud flats or salt marshes form

*Longshore Drift- A tide or current that flows along the coast, taking material with it.

• If longshore drift continues to extend the length of the spit, it may join up with the coastline on the otherside of the opening, such as a bay.
• This results in the formation of a 'bar' with a 'lagoon' behind
• Te bar and lagoon at Slapton, Devon was formed from high sea level.  

A tombolo is a apit connecting an island to the mainland. An example of a Tombolo would be Chesil Beach, which connects the Isle of Portland to the mainland of Dorset coast.

    Chesil Beach stretches for 18 miles. Lagoons have formed behind the stretch of beach material.