On the Genesis of Cuspate Spits along Lagoon Shores
Abstract
In Fisher's article (1955) unusual beach projections (cuspate spits) in the lagoons of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, were described. The question of their formation remained unsettled and led to further discussion by Price and Wilson (1956). The present author reports the data obtained while the problem was studied by the scientists of the U.S.S.R. There exist similar projections in the numerous lagoons of the northeastern part of the U.S.S.R., as well as in a number of other narrow gulfs. Their formation reflects peculiarities of shores of elongated water bodies in which the resultant wave regime is oriented at an acute angle toward the shore. Cuspate spits are formed by shore-drifting processes and do not result from seiches, as suggested by Price and Wilson.
