Coastal depositional Features spits, bars and beaches.
Spits- Spurn Head, Holderness coast. The area known as Spurn forms the southern extremity of the Holderness coast and includes the unique feature of Spurn Head, a sand and shingle spit 5.5km long, reaching across the mouth of the Humber. Spurn is made up of the material which has been transported along the Holderness Coast. This includes sand, sediment and shingle. Spurn Point provides evidence of longshore drift on the Holderness Coast. It is an excellent example of a spit. Spits are also created by deposition. A spit is an extended stretch of beach material that projects out to sea and is joined to the mainland at one end. Spits are formed where the prevailing wind blows at an angle to the coastline, resulting in longshore drift. An example of a spit is Spurn Head, found along the Holderness coast in Humberside.
1. Longshore drift moves material along the coastline.
2. A spit forms when the material is deposited.
3. Over time, the spit grows and develops a hook if wind direction changes further out.
4. Waves cannot get past a spit, which creates a sheltered area where silt is deposited and mud flats or salt marshes form.
Spurn Head SSSI Spurn head is a Site Special Scientific Interest SSSI. It has many important birds and plants. For example the rare birds such as merlin and peregrine (hunting birds) and the waders such as Shelduck and Brent geese. Lavender sea aster and sea rocket are flowering plants that are at risk.
Bars - Slapton Ley, South Devon, Southwest England.
Slapton Ley
Lagoon/lake
It is the largest natural freshwater lake/lagoon in South West England. It is 1.5 miles long and is made up of two parts (the Lower Ley and the Higher Ley). The site is a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It was formed over 3,000 years ago when this shingle ridge or bar created a natural dam across a river estuary. Formation The Bar has been formed by the process of longshore drift as thousands of tons of sand has been deposited over 1,000’s of years Marine Life in the lake The National Nature Reserve at Slapton Ley (the lake/lagoon behind the bar) is home to one of our most mysterious watery beasts - the Eel. During the autumn Eels start to migrate back to the sea to breed so keep an eye out for them in the water and on land.
Badgers aren't something you might associate with freshwater areas but Slapton Ley provides a great habitat for them.
Some of the Badger sets are located just yards away from the reed beds.
Beaches All beaches are formed through the process of longshore drift but also through constructive waves. Constructive waves have a strong swash but weaker backwash meaning that sand and pebbles are deposited. Storms often throw pebbles up the beach. Cliffs also provide eroded material for the beach as they may erode and cliffs collapse through processes of slipping or slumping. Beaches change daily depending on tides and wind speed which contribute to wave movement.