Lacustrine coasts, especially those associated with shallow highly fluctuating lakes, do not evolve in exactly the same way as marine coasts. Climate variability can significantly modify the morphology of the water body, affecting the lake surface area, the available fetch, and the water depth, resulting in possible changes to wave generation and propagation. To look more closely at the nature of coastal sediments generated under such specific environments, we selected examples of both shallow lacustrine and open ocean beach deposits. The first location was Gallocanta Lake, a shallow body of water in the Iberian Chain in central Spain; and the second was Mazagón Beach, in the Gulf of Cádiz, a mesotidal sandy beach exposed to Atlantic waves and tides. Both deposits are formed by beach and ridge and runnel systems. The sedimentary structures of the two deposits were compared, together with a genetic scheme for these. In both cases, applying wave propagation models facilitated the interpretation of the sedimentary processes responsible for their genesis. Although the general morphosedimentary characteristics of the two deposits are roughly similar, a more detailed analysis revealed significant differences, some of which could be used as diagnostic indicators of shallow lacustrine environments in geoarchives. Effective fetch seemed not to be a determining factor for explaining the textural differences between the two deposits. Local factors such as wind strength and direction, and approaching wave refraction patterns are important in controlling the final energy reaching both types of coasts, and, hence, the resulting geometry of the clastic coastal deposits. The type and maturity of the available sediment also influence the final textural properties of the deposits. Open ocean beaches receive sporadic high energetic storms; these partially erode the sedimentary record and reduce the preservation potential of coastal deposits compared with those from shallow lake beaches. Comparing lacustrine deposits with marine analogues and identifying similarities and differences between the two coastal environments may help to infer the main factors underlying the formation and development of coastal deposits in non-tidal, fetch-limited environments.
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