Deposition landforms

Beaches

sand beaches have more gentle gradient as when wet sand is compact and percollation can occur - little energy lost

shingle beaches have steeper profile as backwash cannot carry large materials back down the beach - causing build up

Berms

small ridges that develop at high tide marks due to decompostion at the top of the swash

cusps

semi-circular depressions formed by waves reaching the same point for swash and backwash

Recipe for a cusp

onshore waves parallel to the coast

same backwash as swash

beach has mix of sediment size

Split formation

• LSD moves material along coastline - determined by prevailing wind

• at headland fine material will continue out to sea to develop a permanent feature

• wave refraction of the 2nd dominant wind direction will force material to curve in

• salt marsh forms due to the low energy area

Onshore bars

• Same as a spit - without the river

• LSD extends to the next headland

Tombolo

same as a bar but connects to an island not a headland

Saltmarsh formation

• algae and eal grass colonise

• mud builds up around them - new plants decrease their time submereged

• vegetation forms a mat - saltmarsh will hollows and traps sea water

• area slowly becomes covered by spring tides

• area will gradually rise above tidal influence

What is a delta

a large area of sediment found at the mouth of many rivers

Types of deltas

cuspate - pointed extension of the coastline

arcuate - sufficient sediment - delta grows seaward

birds foot - distributaries build out from the coast in branching patterns