Learning Objectives

Today we will begin to understand how material is moved

along the coastline.
We will also be able to draw a detailed diagram showing
longshore drift.

Erosion Processes

Hydraulic action
Solution
Attrition
Abrasion

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geo
graphy/coastal/coastalprocessesrev4.shtml
What is erosion, transportation and deposition?

Processes of erosion
Attrition
Materials carried by the waves bump into each other and so are
smoothed and broken down into smaller particles.
Hydraulic action
This process involves the force of water against the coast. The waves
enter cracks (faults) in the coastline and compress the air within the
crack. When the wave retreats, the air in the crack expands quickly,
causing a minor explosion. This process is repeated continuously.
Corrosion
This is the chemical action of sea water. The acids in the salt water
slowly dissolve rocks on the coast. Limestone and chalk are particularly
prone to this process.
Abrasion/Corrasion
This is the process by which the coast is worn down by material carried
by the waves. Waves throw these particles against the rock, sometimes
at high velocity.

Longshore Drift
Longshore drift happens when waves approach the beach
at an angle which results in the gradual zig-zag movement
of beach materials along the coast.
Waves approach the beach at an angle because of the
direction of the prevailing wind and the fetch.
Beach materials are sand, gravel, shell fragments and
pebbles.

How is sediment transported along the coast?

Longshore drift
Direction of movement
Backwash is always at
right angles to the beach

swash
Backwash

This movement of sediment along the

coastline is called longshore drift.

Longshore drift involves swash and backwash;

Swash this drags the material from the bottom of
the sea onto the beach.
Backwash this then pulls the material along the
coastline and back with it into the sea.
As the swash and backwash work together they
transport the material along the coastline and a
zig-zag pattern.
Why are smaller pebbles taken easier than larger
pieces of material?

Activity
1. Explain in a maximum of three sentences
how longshore drift works.
2. Produce a diagram in your books showing
how longshore drift carries material along
the coastline.

Look at the images

1) What does the image show?

2) What are they made from?
3) Where are they placed ?
4) Explain how they work?

Groynes are a rigid structures (usually made from wood

and look like fences) built out from the coastline to
interrupt transportation of materials. They slow down
material being transported along the beach by longshore
drift.

 A build up of material will occur on one side of the groyne if longshore

drift is happening on the beach. The side that the material builds up
on is the side that the prevailing wind blows more towards.
So the material will be higher on one side of the groyne than on the
other as the material is being pushed up against the groyne (by
longshore drift) and the groynes are preventing it from moving any
further.

Activity 2
Now consider the advantages and disadvantages of using
groynes along the coastline to slow down longshore drift.

You must consider;

1. How much will they be to use along a beach? (they usually
cost between 5000 - 100,000!)
2. How well do they work in preventing erosion and slowing
down longshore drift?
3. What do they look like are they ugly or attractive?

Advantages

Disadvantages

Advantages

Disadvantages

The main advantage of building

groynes is that it helps to slow
down longshore drift so it also
slows down erosion of the
coastline by preventing material
being transported from one part of
the beach to another.

Groynes are quite expensive and

therefore would only be used if the
properties that it is protecting are
of high value. They are also not
very attractive and can spoil the
look of a beach.