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Beach Processes

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Encyclopedia of Estuaries

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

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Definition

The physical, biological, and chemical processes operating on the surface and shallow subsurface of a beach, resulting in stratigraphic, granulometric, and sediment compositional variations, construction of physical sedimentary structures and biogenic structures, authigenic/diagenetic mineral responses, and biogenic mineral products.

Introduction

A beach can be described as a shoreline that has formed and has been reworked by waves or tides, and that is usually underlain by sand or gravel, and lacking a bare rocky surface (modified from Bates and Jackson, 1987). Beaches largely encompass the tidal interval, but can extend to a limited distance inland, either to a definite change in material or physiographic form (such as a cliff) or to the line of permanent vegetation (usually the effective limit of the highest storm waves). Beaches form in many shore environments, e.g., along mainland coasts fronting an open ocean, small seas, embayments, bays, estuaries peripheral to...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. V & C Semeniuk Research Group, 21 Glenmere Road, Warwick, WA, 6024, Australia

    Vic Semeniuk

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia

    Margaret Brocx

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  1. Vic Semeniuk
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  2. Margaret Brocx
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Correspondence to Vic Semeniuk .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

    Michael J. Kennish

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Semeniuk, V., Brocx, M. (2016). Beach Processes. In: Kennish, M.J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Estuaries. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8801-4_304

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