Features of coastal deposition

Examples of depositional features

Depositional features produced by longshore drift include spits, bars, and tombolos.

sand spit

The diagram shows the building of a spit by longshore drift across the mouth of a river.

Sandspits often have a curved or hooked end as a secondary wind and wave direction curves the end of the spit as waves strike from this second and different direction. A series of such hooks can develop over time.

The spit creates an area of calmer water, sheltered by the spit. A lagoon, salt marsh and finally dry land can develop in this sheltered area.