Coastal map skills

Using aerial photographs

Aerial photos can be used to help identify coastal features. There are a number of coastal features that can be identified on aerial photos or Ordnance Survey maps.

It is usually easy to understand the differences between cliffs (erosion landforms) and beaches (deposition landforms). The most obvious coastal feature is the long depositional finger of land that makes up a hooked spit.

This satellite image shows the development of a Hooked Spit on the Holderness area on the east coast of England. Erosion around the village of Withernsea is then transported down the coastline through the process of longshore drift.

The spit starts to form where the coastline changes direction. The velocity of the water from the River Humber and power of the sea will meet at a certain place where a long hooked beach will form.

Tourists often use OS maps to help them to identify quiet, secluded pieces of the coastline where they can enjoy a nice sandy beach in relative solitude.

Maps will often show the key erosion and deposition features studied at GCSE geography. In addition, some places will also show evidence of coastal management, groynes and sea walls.

The Ordnance Survey map of the Holderness coastline helps to reinforce the idea that Spits like Spurn Head can often be temporary structures that are only one storm away from removal.

The build-up of sand at 421 140 has been removed to the point that the end of the spit has nearly been left as an island. This deposition beach is in a constant state of flux and even though the end of the spit has a Life Boat station (397 111) and a Pilot Station (400 109) – access to these could be jeopardised at times.

For more general revision of map skills go to the Map skills section in Geographical skills