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Depositional Land Forms
Depositional Land Forms
Depositional Land Forms
LANDFORMS
Spit
• A Spit is a long, narrow
accumulation of sand or
shingle, one end attached to
the land the other projecting
out to sea or across a river
estuary. Many spits have
hooked or curved ends. They
are formed where longshore
drift moves large quantities of
sand & shingle along the coast
& where the coastline
suddenly changes direction to
leave a shallow sheltered area
of water. In the diagram X to
Y represents the original
coastline.
Da Nong, Vietnam
Spit
• As the fetch & prevailing winds
are from the south west, in this
diagram, longshore drift will be
moved eastward along the
coastline. At headland X the
coastline changes direction &
shingle will be deposited in
water sheltered by the headland
(B). Further deposition of sand
enables the feature to build up to
sea level (C) & extends its
length (D). The spits growth is
limited by river currents
scouring its end & transporting
Spurn point. sediment out to sea.
Spit (Salt Marsh)
• Behind the spit a quiet
tranquil lagoon forms &
sediment (brought in both by
sea currents & from rivers) is
deposited there. Eventually
the sediment builds up to sea
level & a Salt marsh forms.
Hooked (Recurved) Spit
• Occasionally storms
come in from the south
east or east & move
sediment in a different
direction forming the
curve or hook (E).When
the wind returns to
normal the spit resumes
its growth eastward (F).
Sand is blown on land
(G), forming sand dunes.
• Hurst Castle Spit, Hants.
Hooked (Recurved) Spit
Animation
Double Spit
LSD
Cuspate Foreland
• A complex structure formed in a variety of ways
• Deposition behind a spit.
• LSD in 2 directions (Tombolo)
• Dungeness, Kent.
Bayhead Beach
• In bays there is little
energy (wave
refraction).
• Sediment that drifts
in is trapped & a
beach develops.
• Pett Levels, Kent.