Submergent coast
Also called: Submerged coast, High rocky coast · Topic: Landforms and their Evolution: Rivers, Groundwater, Glaciers, Waves and Wind · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "Structure and Physiography"; Class 11, Ch 6 "Landforms and their Evolution"
Meaning
A submergent coast forms where the land sank or the sea level rose. The sea drowns river valleys and glacial valleys. So the coast is high, rocky and deeply indented, which means it has many inlets and bays. It has cliffs, deep water close to the shore and good natural harbours. Erosion is stronger than deposition here. NCERT calls this a high rocky coast. Drowned glacial valleys form fjords. Drowned river valleys form funnel-shaped inlets called rias.
Example
The coast of Norway is a classic submergent coast, with long fjords such as Sognefjord. In India, NCERT calls the west coast high, rocky and retreating, and some texts call parts of the Konkan coast submerged.
Don't confuse with
- Emergent coast: this forms where the land rose or the sea fell. It is low and smooth, with plains, deltas, lagoons and marshes, and deposition is stronger there. NCERT calls it a low sedimentary coast. India's east coast is the example.
Related concepts
- Emergent coast
- Ria coast
- Longshore current
- Coastal erosion
- Sea cliff
- Wave-cut platform
- Sea cave
- Sea arch
- Sea stack