The continuous changes taking place in the coastal zone constitute beach processes. A beach is one part of the coastal zone, which is the transitional area between terrestrial and marine environments. The coastal zone comprises the beach; an underwater region that extends seaward to the depth where waves no longer effect the sea bottom; and inland to features such as sea cliffs, dune fields, and estuaries (q.v.). Beach studies focus on understanding spatial and temporal changes in alongshore and cross-shore geomorphic features of the beach (Beach Features: q.v.) and in the size and composition of beach sediment. Over time, the coastal zone changes in character in response to changes in wave climate and other physical processes.
Comprehensive knowledge of beach processes is crucial to society because the majority of the world’s coastlines are eroding (Thornton et al., 2000). Moreover, sea-level rise (q.v.) from global warmingcould accelerate coastal land loss, resulting in an...
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Cross-references
Barrier Islands
Bars
Beach Cusps (see Rhythmic Patterns)
Beach Erosion
Beach Features
Beach Nourishment
Cliffed Coasts
Coastal Boundaries
Coral Reefs
Cross-Shore Sediment Transport
Depth of Closure on Sandy Coasts
Dune Ridges
Erosion Processes
Global Positioning Systems
Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
Longshore Sediment Transport
Meteorologic Effects on Coasts
Mining of Coastal Materials
Muddy Coasts
Nearshore Geomorphological Mapping
Profiling, Beach
Rhythmic Patterns
Ripple Marks
Rock Coast Processes
Sandy Coasts
Sea-Level Rise, Effect
Sediment Budget
Shore Protection Structures
Spits
Surf Zone Processes
Tides
Wave-Dominated Coasts
Waves
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Dingler, J.R. (2005). Beach Processes. In: Schwartz, M.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Science Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3880-1_36
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