Coastal Transportation And Deposition: Longshore Drift

Question 1

What is load?

Answer 1

The material transported by waves, such as sand, shingle, mud and eroded material.

Question 2

What is longshore drift?

Answer 2

The movement of the load along the coastline

Question 3

What is longshore drift shortened to?

Answer 3

LSD

Question 4

What is step 1 in LSD?

Answer 4

Waves approach and move up the shore at an angle (matching the direction of prevailing wind). When a wave breaks, the swash moves the load up the shore at an angle and deposits some material there. The material is moved along the shore.

Question 5

What is step 2 in LSD?

Answer 5

The backwash carries material back down the shore. This movement follows the slope of the beach, and is usually in a straight line.

Question 6

What happens when this process is repeated?

Answer 6

There will be gradual movement of material along the sea in a zigzag fashion.