landforms

• define fine sand beaches - deposition

  • flat gradient
  • stronger swash and reduced backwash
  • water moves onto fine sediment = beach compacted = reduces water percolation and increased friction with water so wave energy drops
• define shingle beaches - deposition

  • steeper gradient
  • storm beach = platform of deposited shingle from larger waves
  • stronger backwash = friction reduced because there's larger gaps between sediment so water percolates.
  • sediment isn't compact = if lower beach moves, all upper beach slides down.
• when talking about beach profile...

  1. slope / gradient
  2. sediment size
• define coastal spit - deposition

  • requires a shoreline that changes direction and is drift aligned
• define drift aligned shoreline - long shore drift

  waves hit at an oblique angle
• describe the area behind a spit

  • intertidal and sheltered
  • becomes a salt marsh only if river already flows into it
  • possibility of becoming terrestrial over time
• define onshore bar - deposition

  when a spit forms and connects mainland to mainland

  • area behind, becomes a lagoon
• define tombolo - deposition

  when a spit forms connecting mainland shore to an island