On a neck, on a spit: controls on the shape of free spits

Ashton, A. D.; Nienhuis, J.; Ells, K.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-193-2016

Articles | Volume 4, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-193-2016

© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-193-2016

© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Articles | Volume 4, issue 1

Research article

|

03 Feb 2016

Research article |

| 03 Feb 2016

On a neck, on a spit: controls on the shape of free spits

A. D. Ashton, J. Nienhuis, and K. Ells

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Final revised paper (published on 03 Feb 2016)
Supplement to the final revised paper
Preprint (discussion started on 12 Jun 2015)
Supplement to the preprint

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment

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- Supplement

RC C230: 'formation and dynamics of spits along sandy coasts', Albert Falqués, 06 Aug 2015
- AC C522: 'Response to Reviewer #1', Andrew Ashton, 14 Dec 2015
RC C310: '"On a Neck, On a Spit: Controls on the Shape of Free Spits" by Ashton et al., Anonymous Review, Sept. 18', Anonymous Referee #2, 19 Sep 2015
- AC C523: 'Response to Reviewer #2', Andrew Ashton, 14 Dec 2015

Short summary

Depositional shoreline spits are found along many of the Earth's modern and paleo-shorelines. Here we use a numerical model of shoreline evolution to develop a comprehensive model of the controls on spit shape, demonstrating that spits are graded shapes that arise from feedbacks between the headland, neck, and hook through the migration of a "fulcrum point". Our results suggest that spit form is controlled not only by the directional wave climate but also by the rate of headland recession.