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Spits

• A spit is a depositional coastal landform that forms by longshore drift:
• The prevailing wind pushes constructive waves up the beach at an angle as the swash.
• The waves then travel at a ninety degree angle back down the beach due to gravity as the backwash
• Sediment is pushed up and dragged back down the beach in this way through the process
• This process continues down the entire beach, leading to mass transportation of sediment, until the mainland ends.
• At this point, sediment is deposited and builds up causing an extension of the mainland out into the sea as a spit.
• Spits can form a recurved hook as to secondary winds cause sediment deposition to occur at a different angle than previously.
• A salt marsh can form behind a spit if an estuary is present due to the mixing of fresh water, salt water and sediment.