Sand Dunes (DP IB Geography)

Revision Note

Coastal Processes & Sand Dune Formation

  • The coastal processes of erosion and deposition generate sediment for dune building

  • Dunes form primarily by prevailing winds blowing sediment up the beach

  • Plant succession stabilises sediment, which is vital for dune formation

  • Dune formation requires:

    • Lots of sediment

    • Continuous wind 

    • Large beaches

    • Large tidal range, so sand sediment has time to dry

    • Obstacles for the dune to form over

    • Hardy, pioneer species to bind the sand

Formation of a sand dune

  • The wind blows up the beach, transporting sediment

  • When sediment reaches an obstacle, large pieces settle in front of it to create a ridge

  • Behind the obstacle, smaller pieces of sediment settle

  • This will build up over time, forming a sand dune

  • The sand dune is steeper on the windward side, and more gentle on the other

  • A psammosere is the plant succession of a sand dune

Embryo dunes

  • These are young, very small sand dunes (only a few metres)

  • Pioneer species colonise in embryo dunes and stabilise the sand e.g. lime grass or saltwort

  • Sand accumulates around the newly colonised plant

  • These dunes are fragile and tides can easily wash them away

Foredune

  • Further up the beach, behind the embryo dune, a foredune develops

  • Foredunes form as embryo dunes build up 

  • Marram grass begins to grow, stabilising the dune further

  • Sea holly grows on the sheltered side of the dune

  • Species start to become more diverse and cover the ground

Yellow dune

  • These dunes sit above the beach level

  • These are mainly made of sand rather than soil

  • The diversity of organisms increases, e.g. ragwort

  • Marram grass (dead leaves) incorporate organic matter (humus), into the dune, creating soil:

    • This makes the sand/soil more nutrient-rich – a perfect environment for further plants to develop

Grey dune

  • Grey dunes have more protection from the other dunes in front 

  • Sand is more protected from the wind and stabilised by vegetation

  • These dunes are fixed dunes 

  • Gorse and heather can grow as soils improve

Dune slack

  • The dip between sand dunes is the dune slack

  • They may be moist or entirely filled with water

  • They are nutrient-rich and home to a variety of plants and animals 

Mature dune

  • This is the last stage of dune succession, reaching the climax community

  • Conditions are much more favourable, with moisture and nutrient-rich soils

  • They are far above the high-tide level

  • These could be brambles, pine or birch trees

Diagram of dune succession

Cross-section illustration of coastal sand dunes progressing from sea to mature dune: embryo, fore, yellow, grey dunes; dune slack near water table.
Diagram of dune succession 

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