Main content

Landforms created by longshore drift and coastal deposition

Longshore drift and the formation of spits, barrier beaches and tombolos are explained with case studies. Longshore drift moves material along the coastline and creates spits, such as those found at Blakeney and Spurn. Barrier beaches are formed where spits are joined to the mainland at both ends, trapping water behind in a lagoon; an example of this can be seen at Slapton in Devon. Tombolos are found where barrier beaches form a bridge between an island and the mainland; an example of this is Chesil Beach in Dorset.

Release date:

Duration:

2 minutes