SHORELINE AND STREAMS
TIDAL VARIATION
DESCRIPTION: Tidal variation within any one area depends on several factors, namely, the positions of the sun and moon, and the configuration of the coastline. Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia has the largest tidal range of over 50 ft. The Cook Inlet in Alaska has about the fifth highest range at over 30 ft.
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Figure 1 - Cook Inlet Alaska has one of the highest Tidal Ranges in the world (> 30ft.). Here, the withdrawing tide exposes expansive mud flats and tidal channels. Ripple marks are also produced (see photo below) (Photo 1973)
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Figure 2 - Cook Inlet, Alaska. Receding and advancing tides produce Symmetrical Ripples.
MEANDERS
DESCRIPTION: Rivers or streams than loop or wind are said to meander. When a wide meander is cut off it can leave behind a free standing curved body of water called an Oxbow Lake.
Figure 1 - Meanders and Oxbow Lake formation. Photo taken from Crawford Mountains, Utah. (Photo 1982)
BRAIDED STREAM
DESCRIPTION: A Braided Stream is a network of river/stream channels separated by islands (braid bars). They are commonly associated with high sediment loads and/or coarse-grained sediments such as might be found with glacial meltwaters.
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SEA STACK AND SEA ARCH
DESCRIPTION: Sea Stacks form when headlands are attacked due to wave refraction and rock masses are isolated. When holes on either side of a headland (or stack) meet, they create a Sea Arch.
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Figure 1 - Braided streams. South Alaska.
Figure 1 - Sea Stack with an Arch found off the coast of Nova Scotia (Photo 1974)