depositional landforms

Question 1

what is a spit

Answer 1

a long narrow ridge of sediment that is attached to the land at one end

Question 2

what must be greater than output for a spit to form

Answer 2

the input f sediment

Question 3

what type of beach is needed for a spit to form

Answer 3

a drift aligned beach which is controlled bs LSD

Question 4

where does the sediment for a spit to form come from

Answer 4

coastal or/and river erosion

Question 5

what trasnportation processes take place in the process of a spit formation

Answer 5

LSD and saltation

Question 6

what is LSD

Answer 6

the movement of sediment along a beach through a zig zag movement

Question 7

how does the prevailing wind play a role in spit formation

Answer 7

it controls the direction of waves which pushes sediment upshore at a 45 degree angle

Question 8

what waves are needed in the formation of a spit

Answer 8

constructive waves

Question 9

what is the full process of a spit formation

Answer 9

-abundance of sediment on a drift aligned beach from cliff or river erosion
-prevailing wind pushes constructive waves up beach at a 45 degree angle
-swash pushes sediment upshore and it taken back down by gravity
-lsd pushes sediment along a beach
-as coastline changes direction, lsd continues in original direction
.sediment is deposited across a bay
-deposited material forms a peninsula known as a spit
-overtime a spit will curve due to wave refraction

Question 10

why are erosional and weathering processes important in forming spits

Answer 10

it provides a beach with an abundance of sediment

Question 11

what is a barrier beach

Answer 11

a ridge of sediment that runs parallel to the shore and rises slightly above sea level.

Question 12

why can some spits not form barrier beches

Answer 12

because some estuarys have a strong current from the river so sediment cannot be deposited

Question 13

what is required for a barrier beach to form

Answer 13

-an abundance of sediment
-drift aligned beach

Question 14

how is a barrier beach formed

Answer 14

same process as a spit
-but sediment is deposited across a whole bay due to no strong river current and no change in wind direction

Question 15

what forms behind a barrier beach

Answer 15

a lagoon

Question 16

what is a tombolo

Answer 16

its a sandy or shingle spit that joins an island to the mainland

Question 17

how does a tombolo form

Answer 17

its the same process as a spit

Question 18

what is an offshore barrier island

Answer 18

a barrier beach which has become seperated from the mainland by rising sea level

Question 19

what does fluvial mean

Answer 19

river

Question 20

how does an offshore barrier beach form

Answer 20

a bar gets broken down into sections due to high rates of erosion and rising sea levels

Question 21

where does a saltmarsh form

Answer 21

behind a spit

Question 22

what conditions are needed for a saltmarsh to form

Answer 22

low energy sheltered area

Question 23

what is a halophytic plant

Answer 23

a salt resistant which can withstand being submerged by the tide

Question 24

what is a pioneer plant

Answer 24

the first plants to start developing before being replaced by others

Question 25

what is a saltpan

Answer 25

hollows in the saltmarsh where sea water is trapped and evaporated, it creates very salty areas where even halophytic plants cant grow

Question 26

what is flocculation

Answer 26

when fluvial + sea water mix, it causes an electric charge and causes clay to merge with each other, it grows in mass and gets deposited.

Question 27

what are some of the pioneer plants that first develop on saltmarshes

Answer 27

eelgrass and green algae