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6.1.8: Shoreline Environments (Chapter 13)

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    4319
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    MartinezMouthBar.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Mouth bar from a creek flowing into brackish water straits (California)

    MartinezMouthBarClose.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Mouth bar from a creek flowing into brackish water straits (California)

    Large sections of the central California coast are mostly erosional with substantial cliffs.

    WaveCutPlatform.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Modern Wave Cut Platform​​​​​​​

    WaveCutPlatformAnc.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Ancient Wave Cut Platform​​​​​​​


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    Scott Creek Beach

    Scott Creek Beach, CA, is a wave and storm dominated beach. The following photos were taken near low tide. We go to this beach on the second field trip.

    Beach.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): Scott Creek Beach​​​​​​​

    BeachXStratLocal.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\): Terrace at Scott Creek Beach​​​​​​​

    BeachXStrat1.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\): Beach Stratification

    BeachXstrat2.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\): Beach Stratification

    BeachXStrat3.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\): Beach Stratification

    BeachXStrat4.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{10}\): Beach Stratification

    The first photo shows beach stratification along the beach, whereas the next photo shows strata deposited at about the same time, but in a terrace perpendicular to the beach. Note how the laminae appear much more parallel in the first photo. This is because the main slope of the beach is towards the ocean. When looking in the rock record, it is important to understand the 3-D geometry of deposits for the best interpretations.

    ScottBeachXStrat2.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\): Beach Stratification

    ScottBeachXStrat3.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{12}\): Beach Stratification

    ScottAntidunes.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{13}\): Antidunes in a creek


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    This Brazilian beach is also wave dominated

    BeachStratModern.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{14}\): Modern Beach Stratification

    Pescadero Beach

    Pescadero Beach and estuary have complex facies changes over short distances. We visit this site on the second field trip.

    PescaderoBeachBerm.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{15}\): Pescadero Beach

    PescaderoCreekToBreaker.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{16}\): The creek flows into the breaker zone

    PescaderoEstuary.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{17}\): Looking across the estuary

    PescaderoTidalFlatsDunes.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{18}\): Looking towards the shoreline from the estuary​​​​​​​

    PescaderoDunesInCreek.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{19}\): Dunes migrating in the creek​​​​​​​

    PescaderoDunesInCreek2.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{20}\): Dunes migrating in the creek​​​​​​​

    PescaderoChannelFlats.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{21}\): Tidal flats next to the creek channel

    PescaderoWaveToCurrent.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{22}\): Ripples beside the creek

    PescaderoCurrentRipples.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{23}\): Current ripples beside the creek

    PescaderoDune.jpg​​​​​​​

    Figure \(\PageIndex{24}\): Eroded sand dunes​​​​​​​


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    Broome Town Beach

    Broome Town Beach, Western Australia, is tide dominated, although small waves are present. In the summer, typhoons are common. The following photos were taken at low tide on the tidal flat in the winter.

    WaveRipplesMod.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{25}\): Modern Wave Ripples

    WaveRipplesMod1.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{26}\): Modern Wave Ripples

    WaveRipplesMod2.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{27}\): Modern Wave Ripples


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    Derby

    The coastline near Derby, Western Australia, is dominated by extremely high tides (almost 12 m tidal range), and waves are essentially absent in the protected Prince William Sound. Mangroves line the shore. The following photos were taken at an exceptionally low tide when the tidal bars were exposed.

    TidalBar.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{28}\): Tidal bar

    TidalBar2.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{29}\): Tidal bar dunes


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    Lake Louise

    The sediment-rich creek that flows into Lake Louise, southern Canadian Rockies, creates a lacustrine delta, as seen in the following photographs.

    LacustrineDelta.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{30}\): Lacustrine Delta

    LacustrineDelta2.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{31}\): Lacustrine Delta


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    6.1.8: Shoreline Environments (Chapter 13) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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