5. Coastal transportation

Question 1

Transportation

Answer 1

Transportation:
Traction, Saltation, Suspension and Solution.
Aeolian transportation of sand by onshore winds.
This is particularly significant on sandy beaches with a gentle gradient as the tide retreats a longer distance allowing time for the sand ro dry.

Question 2

Longshore drift

Answer 2

Longshore drift:
Waves approaching at angle, dominant direction of wind
Wave breaks, swash carries material diagonally up the beach.
Gravitational force acts on backwash, moving material perpendicular to the coastline.
Larger sediment requires more energy for it to be moved and is therefore transported at a slower pace, smaller particles are transported faster and further.
This results in sediment sorting, with the larger material occurring at the top of the beach profile (updrift) and the smaller travelling further downwind and occurring in the lower foreshore (downdrift) as it is easily transported by the weaker backwash.