World-wide distribution of Shingle

Shorelines dominated by clasts of the size considered to qualify as shingle are important mainly in high latitudes and in those parts of the temperate world that were affected by glaciation. The combination of sediment production and supply and the post-glacial storm wave climate have helped to create gravel beach concentrations in the areas shown in the Figure below (Orford et al. 2001). The figure is derived from this paper and Pye (2001). The European distribution is predominantly found in the more exposed north west, especially in Great Britain (northwest Scotland and southeast England).

Figure: Approximate world distribution of gravel (shingle) dominated coastlines in relation to the limits of glacial activity