Coastal Depositional Landforms

?
What are beaches mainly composed of?
Loose, unconsolidated sands & pebbles.
1 of 17
How do beaches survive rough storms and energetic wave conditions?
They have an ability & mobility to adjust their dynamic equilibrium to many different conditions.
2 of 17
What is a 'swash-aligned beach'?
Where waves break parallel to the shore, with little longshore drift.
3 of 17
What is a 'drift-aligned beach'?
Where waves arrive at an oblique angle & considerable longshore drift occurs. Plenty of sediment available.
4 of 17
What is a 'zeta-formed beach'?
Headlands & refraction stop longshore drift - build up of sediment in front of headland.
5 of 17
What is a 'spit'?
A linear deposit of sand & shingle attached to the land at the proximal end but free at the distal end.
6 of 17
Where can spits be found?
At low energy envmts, where longshore drift is active and the coast has an abrupt change of direction.
7 of 17
What other landforms can spits form?
Bars & coastal lagoons. Over time, the sheltered area behind a spit can also become a mud flat or salt marsh.
8 of 17
What is an example of a spit?
Spurn Head in Yorkshire.
9 of 17
What are 'cuspate forelands'?
Triangular shaped projections with an apex pointing out to the sea.
10 of 17
Where is an example of a cuspate foreland?
Dungeness. Formed by 2 opposing directions of swell & longshore drift.
11 of 17
How are cuspate forelands formed?
Sediment from longshore drift is trapped when an equilibrium is reached between sediment inputs & energy available to move it.
12 of 17
How are tombolos formed?
Longshore drift joins an island onto either the mainland or to a larger island.
13 of 17
Name an example of a tombolo
'Tombolo di Orbetello' in Tuscany formed where 2 sand spits joined the former 'Monte Argentano Island' onto the mainland forming a large lagoon.
14 of 17
What are 'bars & barrier islands'?
Elongated deposits of sand & shingle parallel to the coastline.
15 of 17
How are bars & barrier islands formed?
By constructive waves.
16 of 17
Where are bars & barrier islands found?
In seas with shallow offshore gradients & a low tidal range, yet relatively high wave energy.
17 of 17

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How do beaches survive rough storms and energetic wave conditions?

Back

They have an ability & mobility to adjust their dynamic equilibrium to many different conditions.

Card 3

Front

What is a 'swash-aligned beach'?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is a 'drift-aligned beach'?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is a 'zeta-formed beach'?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Geography resources:

See all Geography resources »See all Coastal environments resources »