Bar

Synonyms

Sand bank; Sand bar

Definition

The term bar refers to a step or projection in the cross profile of a beach. While a bar may have slightly different meanings when used by different authors (King, 1972; Finkl, 2004), in all cases the term can be linked to the transformative action of waves when they approach the coastline over a sea bottom that consists of non-cohesive granular sediment.

The concept of a bar is relevant for interpreting data and gaining knowledge of almost all sedimentary coastal formations such as cordons, barrier (sedimentary) islands, hooks, spits, cuspate forelands, and tombolos. For detailed analyses of such formations (Williams, 1982), the Genetic Classification of Simple Coastal Forms (Bores, 1978) is a valuable resource.

Genesis

Water depth gradually decreases as a wave approaches the coast, and mass transport is accentuated because of the asymmetry of the open wave orbital motion. Thus, sea bottom sediments are dragged up toward the breaker line, which...