Indiana University Longshore Drift and Sand Spit Formation Discussion

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Instructions

https://www.google.com/earth/index.html

Google Earth (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.) where examples of longshore drift leading to development of sand spits can be observed and their images used to help explain the process. The two questions focus on writing a description of each phenomena (longshore drift and sand spits), aided by the features visible in a chosen image.

The following locations (name and latitude, longitude) that illustrate the process of longshore drift and sand spit formation may be helpful in answering the two questions:

  • West coast near Crescent City, CA (41° 49′ 48″ N, 124° 13′ 31″ W)
  • Walvis Bay, Namibia (22° 52′ 50″ S, 14° 26′ 30″ E) – shown below
  • Smyna Dunes Park, FL (29° 04′ 19″ N, 80° 54′ 50″W)
  • Dungeness Spit, WA (48° 10′ 29″ N, 123° 8′ 52″ W)
  • Spurn Head, England (53° 34′ 27″ N, 0° 06′ 37 E)

Example: Sand spit at Walvis Bay, Namibia

Sandspit.png

Question 1 5 pts

Explain the process of longshore drift along coastlines making explicit use of images from Google Earth to illustrate your answer and help explain the process of sand movment.

A strong answer will designate locations according to latitude & longitude in Google Earth that provide visual complements for the explanation of longshore drift. Specific reference will be made to aspects of the features in the image(s) – e.g. the relationship between the orientation of incoming waves and the direction of sand movement – that exemplify the process.



Question 2 5 pts

Explain the processes that lead to the formation and development of sand spits by longshore drift along coastlines making explicit use of images from Google Earth to illustrate your answer.

A strong answer will designate locations according to latitude & longitude in Google Earth that provide visual complements for the explanation of sand spit formation and development. Specific reference will be made to aspects of the features in the image(s) – e.g. evidence of the progressive growth of sand spits – that exemplify the processes involved in their development.