Coastal Depositional Landforms: Beaches

Beaches Beaches are mainly constructed of sand and shingle that is built up between low tide and high tide The coastline is constantly changing due to the action of waves as they erode, transport and deposit material along the coastline. Waves are made because of friction between the wind and the surface of the sea.  The size of the wave depends on the strength of the wind and the length of the sea   Swash – As the wave reaches the shore it breaks. The white foamy water that flows up the beach is called the swash. Backwash – When the water runs out of speed it stops and it flows back down the beach into the sea. This is called the backwash. Wave refraction - reduces energy of the wave which allows deposition of the load carried by the wave onto the beach Long shore drift - transportation of material along beach in zig zag movement  Ridges and Runnels form when the sand becomes compact when its wet and the backwash carries material down the beach. Ridges and Runnels run parallel to the shoreline and are broken by channels that drain. A storm beach  consists of the largest material thrown up by the strong swash of the larger waves, it is bigger than a regular beach  Sand Dunes are hill of sand - formed when sand on the beach is dried out by wind. Grass called marram can take root here  Berms  are small ridges of gravel that develop at the spot the tide usually lands