Summary of shingle types

Shingle beaches and structures depend on there being an adequate supply of material in the size range 2-200mm and in an environment where wave action can move the pebbles on shore to a height above which they are left undisturbed for a period of time. Plants such as Crambe maritima which has a long root system and is robust, together with other plants of the shingle shore may aid its stabilisation. However under storm conditions, when pebbles may be thrown out of reach of most wave action (to create shingle structures) this attribute will not prevent the shingle beach moving.

The type of shingle beach or structure thus depends on strength and direction of the waves, storm conditions and availability of sediment in a suitable size range. Narrow fringing beaches occur at the base of sea cliffs (such as eroding chalk cliffs), in embayments including notably around the shores of sea lochs and on exposed open coasts.

Shingle structures may enclose estuaries and embayments as a result of material being moved by long shore drift and form spits, bars and barriers. Where major accumulations of successive ridges are piled on shore under storm conditions cuspate forelands develop. These and nesses and recurved spits form where there is a convergence (or divergence?) of littoral drift. Cheniers are a special form of shingle which is driven onshore as a series of low shell deposits.

Caution: There is overlap between the types and those given here are only one set of definitions.