Articles | Volume 4, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-193-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-193-2016
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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Cited articles

Allard, J., Bertin, X., Chaumillon, E., and Pouget, F.: Sand spit rhythmic development: A potential record of wave climate variations? Arçay Spit, western coast of France, Mar. Geol., 253, 107–131, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2008.05.009, 2008.
Ashton, A. D. and Giosan, L.: Wave-angle control of delta evolution, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L13405, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011gl047630, 2011.
Ashton, A. D. and Murray, A. B.: High-angle wave instability and emergent shoreline shapes: 1. Modeling of sand waves, flying spits, and capes, J. Geophys. Res. Surf., 111, 1–2, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JF000422, 2006a.
Ashton, A. D. and Murray, A. B.: High-angle wave instability and emergent shoreline shapes: 2. Wave climate analysis and comparisons to nature, J. Geophys. Res. Surf., 111, F04012, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JF000423, 2006b.
Ashton, A. D., Murray, A. B., and Littlewood, R.: The response of spit shapes to wave-angle climates, in: Coastal Sediments '07, vol. 1, edited by: Kraus, N. C. and Rosati, J. D., 351–363, ASCE, New Orleans, LA., 2007.
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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.