Landforms and Morphology
The Solent is a highly complex region, comprising of open coast, harbours and a wide variety of dynamic marine and estuarine habitats that are partially sheltered by the Isle of Wight. The oceanographic and geographic location and morphology of the Solent results in fetch limited wave conditions, and a complex tidal regime with long periods of tidal stand at high and low tide.
The shoreline is exposed to a substantially less energetic wave climate and therefore less severe wave attack and shoreline erosion, than most of the English south coast. These prevailing conditions have allowed a wide range of coastal geomorphological features to evolve, such as barrier beaches and spits, dunes and soft cliffs, estuaries and rivers, harbours and lagoons.
Much of the Solent shoreline receives natural coast and flood protection from severe wave attack, by the presence of the saltmarshes and extensive inter-tidal mudflats.
