Beaches

A beach showing berms

Beaches are one of the most common features of a coastline. Beaches are made up of eroded material that has been transported from elsewhere and deposited here by the sea.

Constructive waves help to build up beaches. The type of material found on a beach (ie sand or shingle) is influenced by the geology of the area and wave energy.

A cross-section of a beach is called a beach profile. The ridges often found along a beach are called berms.[an error occurred while processing this directive]

A pebble beach with a steep profile

The material found along a beach tends to vary in size and type as you move further away from the shoreline (where the waves break on the beach). The smallest material tends to be deposited near the water, while larger material is found nearer to the cliffs at the back of the beach. Large material is deposited here in times of high energy, for example during a storm. Waves break most frequently near the shoreline, so sediment nearer the water is broken down more effectively by attrition.

Sandy beaches have more gently sloping profiles, whereas shingle and pebble beaches are steeper.