GEOL 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Continental Crust, Continental Shelf, Oceanic Crust
Document Summary
Terraces big flat areas separated by short drops in elevation, look like stairs. Emergent coastlines coast is being pushed up above sea level, rises over time. Submergent coastlines - coast sinking over time. Wider beaches, flat terrain near coast (south carolina) Spit large bodies of sediment, long strip of sand connected to mainland. Barrier islands like spits, but not connected to mainland temporary structures that move and change relatively quickly. Continental shelf economically important: biological activity and deep enough water = oil, fishing industry farther offshore = lower nutrient content = less fish. Can occur along emergent and submergent coasts. Perfectly natural process, problematic for us because lots of coastal development. Cape hatteras lighthouse - 1500ft inland in 1868, 120ft from ocean in 1998. Lighthouse moved 2900ft inland over 23 days in 1999-2000. Cost million to save the lighthouse. Setback distance minimum distance away from coast.