Beachs Flashcards
What are the two types of beach?
Drift-aligned beach
Swash-aligned beach
Describe swash-aligned beach
On a swash aligned beach sediment moves up and down the beach with no lateral transfer (no movement down the beach)
- Prevailing wind is parallel to the beach
- Waves approach parallel (straight on) to the beach
- No movement sideways
Describe drift-aligned beach
On a drift aligned beach sediment is transferred along the coast by long shore drift
- Prevailing wind is at an angle to the beach
- Waves approach beach at an angle
- Sediment moved along the beach by longshore drift
Types of Beach Landforms (Beach Morphology)
- Berms
- Storm Beach
- Beach Cusps
- Sand Ripples
- Pools and Runnels
(All Landforms of deposition and temporary)
How is a storm beach formed?
Material is deposited by large storm waves – usually when a storm coincides with a spring tide
What does a storm beach look like?
A steep bank of sediment above the HWM on the backshore
What does a berm look like?
Ridges of beach material which run parallel to the sea on the backshore
How are berms formed?
Mark the breaking point of waves over the tidal cycle.
What do cusps look like?
Crescent shaped hollows on the boundary of the backshore and the foreshore
How are cusps formed?
Created by the powerful backwash of destructive waves
What do sand ripples look like?
Small irregular ridges of sand which run parallel to the sea on the foreshore
How are sand ripples formed?
Created by the movement of the long shore current when the tide covers the beach
What do pools and runnels look like?
Channels and pools of sea water on the foreshore
How are pools and runnels formed?
Created as the tide retreats leaving water to return to the sea or collect in shallow hollows
