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Bar, littoral

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Sedimentology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Science ((EESS))

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Introduction

Ridges of unconsolidated sediment, which characterize the upper shoreface of littoral zones dominated by waves, and are generally larger than bedforms are termed wave-formed bars (e.g., see Figure B3). They were recognized as early as 1845 on the marine coasts of Europe, by 1851 in the Great Lakes of North America and subsequently on marine and lacustrine coasts worldwide (see Zenkovich, 1967). Confusion surrounds the term bar because: (a) it is used for similar forms in other environments (see Bar, Fluvial); (b) bars occur within the littoral zone with a wide range of size, shape, location and orientation relative to the shoreline, and within a wide range of littoral environments; (c) no single classification system has proved satisfactory (e.g., Greenwood and Davidson-Arnott, 1975; Wright and Short, 1984; Lippmann and Holman, 1990); (d) explanation of the origin(s) and dynamics of wave-formed barsis far from complete. Detailed reviews of the origin, form and dynamics...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Physical Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, M1C 1A4

    Brian Greenwood (Professor of Geography & Environmental Science, Associate Chair (Research)

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  1. Brian Greenwood
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© 1978 Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Inc.

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Greenwood, B. (1978). Bar, littoral. In: Sedimentology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31079-7_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31079-7_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-87933-152-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-31079-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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