Spit (landform)

For other uses, see Spit.
Diagram showing a spit
A spit contrasted with other coastal landforms.
Curonian Spit, divided between Russia and Lithuania

A spit or sandspit is a deposition bar or beach landform off coasts or lake shores. It develops in places where re-entrance occurs, such as at a cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift by longshore currents. The drift occurs due to waves meeting the beach at an oblique angle, moving sediment down the beach in a zigzag pattern. This is complemented by longshore currents, which further transport sediment through the water alongside the beach. These currents are caused by the same waves that cause the drift.[1][2][3]

  1. ^ Duane, D.B. and James, W.R., 1980, "Littoral transport in the surf zone elucidated by an Eulerian sediment tracer experiment:" Journal of Sedimentary Petrology. vol. 50, p. 929-942
  2. ^ Allen, James R. (1982). "Spits". Beaches and Coastal Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. pp. 789–792. doi:10.1007/0-387-30843-1_432. ISBN 978-0-87933-213-6.
  3. ^ Uda, Takaaki (2019). "Spits". Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. pp. 1623–1627. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93806-6_297. ISBN 978-3-319-93805-9.