EARTH 106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Dune, Intertidal Zone

• School: PSU
• Department: Earth Sciences
• Course: EARTH 106
• Professor: B R A L O W E R T I M O T H Y

Document Summary

Zonation by tidal elevations: supratidal zone: situated above the high tide elevation and only occasionally is flooded, most commonly during high spring tides and storms. It includes the uppermost part of the beach as well as the dunes and so the non-storm process acting to transport sediment in this area is wind (aeolian transport). In this context this area is also recognized as the backshore and dunes zone. Intertidal zone: located between the normal low and high tide levels. This zone is therefore repeatedly inundated by water and exposed to air. This also represents the zone where waves are routinely interacting with the land, leading to daily transport of sediment. This area is also recognized as the foreshore or beach face: subtidal zone: consists of regularly submerged, relatively shallow water area seaward of the intertidal zone. Waves and tides are always acting to move sediment in this environment. This area is also recognized as the shore face.