Coastal Deposition Features: Beaches
Beaches are the main features of coastal deposition. A beach is defined as the gently sloping area of land between the high and low water marks. Remember, beaches are not permanent features as their shapes are altered by waves.
Beaches
are made up of material lying between the high and low tide mark. There are four
main sources of beach material:
1. Material deposited at the mouth of rivers
2. Cliff erosion, provides rock fragments that will build up the beach
3. Constructive waves have a strong swash pushing sands / pebbles up the beach
4. Longshore drift carries material from elsewhere along the coast.