Coastal deposition - SS2 Geography Lesson Note

Coastal deposition features are the result of sediments being transported and deposited by the forces of waves, tides, and currents. They play an important role in shaping coastal landscapes and providing habitat for various species of plants and animals. 

 

Beaches:

Beaches are sandy or pebbly areas along the shoreline where land meets the sea or an ocean.

They are created by the deposition of sediments, such as sand and pebbles, brought by waves and currents.

Waves carry these sediments to the shore and deposit them, forming the characteristic sandy or pebbly beach.

 

Spits:

Spits are elongated, narrow landforms that extend from the mainland into a body of water, often forming a hook or curved shape.

They are created by the deposition of sediments carried by longshore drift, which is the movement of sand and pebbles along the coast due to wave action.

When these sediments accumulate and build up, they can create a spit that points out into the water. Spits are usually exposed on both sides to water.

 

Bars:

Bars are submerged or partially submerged ridges of sand or other sediments that stretch across a body of water, like a bay or lagoon.

They form as a result of sediment deposition, typically from the action of waves and currents.

Bars can have a significant impact on the local coastal environment, influencing water circulation and the formation of lagoons.