All books

Professional

Apps About Coach Log in Start reading

Earth and Space Sciences · Glossary

What is Beach, longshore drift and spit?

Also known as: beach · longshore drift · spit

Definition 31.4 Primary & Middle School Earth and Space Sciences · Chapter 31 — Landforms

A beach is a strip of sand or pebbles piled up by the waves along the shore. When the waves reach the shore at an angle, each wave pushes the grains up the beach at that angle and the water runs back straight down the slope: the grains zigzag along the coast. This movement of sand and pebbles along the shore is longshore drift. A spit is a long, narrow ridge of sand or pebbles built by longshore drift, joined to the land at one end and running out into the sea where the coast turns.

Longshore drift and a spit, seen from above (a sketch). The waves arrive from the south-west; each one pushes the sand and pebbles up the beach at an angle, and the water runs back straight down: the grains zigzag eastward. Where the coast turns into a bay, the drift carries on and builds a spit, behind which a salt marsh grows. The river keeps a channel open at the end of the spit.
Longshore drift and a spit, seen from above (a sketch). The waves arrive from the south-west; each one pushes the sand and pebbles up the beach at an angle, and the water runs back straight down: the grains zigzag eastward. Where the coast turns into a bay, the drift carries on and builds a spit, behind which a salt marsh grows. The river keeps a channel open at the end of the spit.
A sandy spit across the mouth of a bay, seen from a low aircraft (an illustration, not a real place). The waves break on its seaward beach; behind it lie calm water and salt marshes.
A sandy spit across the mouth of a bay, seen from a low aircraft (an illustration, not a real place). The waves break on its seaward beach; behind it lie calm water and salt marshes.
Read in context →

Related terms