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How can cuspate spits divide a lagoon into smaller bodies of water?
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lagoon
Lagoons lie behind the coral reef and barrier islands surrounding Raiatea and Tahaa in the Society Islands, Pacific Ocean.
Cuspate spits can divide a lagoon into smaller, distinct bodies of water through the action of waves within the lagoon environment. These pointed landforms develop along the inner edge of the lagoon and the landward side of the barrier island.1
As these spits grow and extend, they can eventually bridge the width of the lagoon, effectively segmenting the larger area into smaller, often circular or oval-shaped water bodies. This process is particularly observable in regions where vegetation is insufficient to form marshland, such as the lagoons found in the Chukchi Sea.1