Sandspits, Tombolos, and Bars

• material is transported along the coastline by longshore drift
• where the coastline changes direction, material will be deposited in open water. material will build up above sea level and form a spit
• the rate of growth of the sandspit will decrease because the water becomes deeper and the waves are stronger
• of a spot connects with an island it becomes a tombolo
• if a spit connects a with a piece of land across an inlet it becomes a bar. a lagoon is often found behind a bar and will eventually fill up with sediment and dry up