Coastal Features, Essay Example

Part 1

Beaches

I identified backshore and foreshore in all the three pictures of beaches. The foreshore stretches seaward from the berm crest, while the backshore stretches backward. The berm is a deposit of sediment formed by continuous wave activity. It can be seen distinctly in all pictures. The berm crest is the highest point of the berm. A beach scarp (a vertical wall) is often formed between the base of the berm and its top. Finally, the dunes are sometimes found on the backshore (Cape Cod). They are sand hills formed by the power of wind and often covered with some vegetation.

The three photographs of beaches are a clear demonstration of the general tendency of sand beaches to be flatter than pebble ones. There is a sharp distinction between a flat foreshore and a berm on sand beaches. However, New Brunswick beach with its pebbles is in fact a steep slope with water draining between the pebbles and going back with very little sediment.

Part 2

Coastal Features

Sea cliffs are precipitous rocks which plunge down into the sea. They are carved by the force of sea waves and often exposed to strong winds. They are easily identified in the pictures of the Kangaroo Islands, Tasmania, Twelve Apostles etc.

Sea stacks are individual rocks surrounded by sea. They used to be parts of sea cliffs or headland but were cut off by the erosive power of waves. They can be found in the pictures of the Kangaroo Islands, Oregon, and Twelve Apostles. In the picture of the Pacific there is a sea stack which is only partly surrounded by the sea, but I think this is during low tide only.

Sea arch, which can be seen in the picture of London Bridge, was carved in the headland by the force of waves. The part of the headland containing the arch became a stack due to erosion.

A headland is the part of land which cuts into the sea. It is usually quite high and precipitous. Headlands are the bodies of hard rock on the sides of softer material eroded into bays.

A sand spit is a deposit of sediment formed as a result of longshore drift (waves transporting the sediment at an angle down the beach). Sand spits can be recognized by their connection to the beach at one end and extending into the sea almost perpendicular to the beach (Homer Alaska).

A barrier island can be found in the picture of Cape Code, Massachusetts. It is a strip of sand running off the coast and curving parallel to it.

A river delta is a ?-shaped deposition of sediment which has been carried by the river to the point where it flows into a sea (ocean etc.). It can be clearly seen in the picture of Alaska.

Volcanic coast is a coastline formed by volcanic activity (lave hardened into characteristic shapes).

Fjords are formed by the huge erosive force of glaciers. They are U-shaped inlets filled with water and surrounded by steep cliffs.

A baymouth bar is another result of longshore drift. It is a deposit of sediment which isolates a lagoon from the main body of sea. The baymouth bar can be clearly seen in the picture of Cancun. I think the picture of Marco Island represents another baymouth bar. Unfortunately, we cannot see whether it is connected to the mainland from both sides or not. If it is not, it is a barrier island and a bay.

Beaches are strips of sediment which extend along the shoreline. The size of particles can vary from gravel down to sand. The sediment is produced as a result of shore erosion and wave activity determines its distribution.

Fringing reef is a type of coral reef which can grow straight from the shore and have a very small lagoon or none at all. It can be seen in the picture of Tumon Bay.