Forward movement of water. The energy of the wave is thus transferred to the shoreline which can result in work - erosion Currents Currents are created by the transfer of wave energy to a shore Wave refraction Waves may approach a shore at any angle, typically they will bend to become more parallel to shore. Rip currents Generated by the return of water back out from shore. Depositional features of coasts Beaches a deposit of unconsolidated sediment extending from low tide to the area not influenced by wave action or storm surges Foreshore Backshore Berms Surf zone Swash zone Spit Unconsolidated sediment formed from longshore drift that extends out from a headland Baymouth bars longer spits that essentially isolate a bay Tombolos Spits connecting an eroded piece of land with the mainland Barrier Islands Barrier islands are very long semi-connected islands of sand that occur primarily along gently sloping continental shelves. The work of waves is primarily in transference of sediment.
Erosion occurs when more sediment is lost that than is gained.
Sediment is brought into the system from rivers and shoreline erosion and then redistributed by longshore drift. Sediment is lost from the system by offshore transport to deeper water, wind removal, and again redistribution by longshore currents. Headlands Sea stacks Sea arches Tendency is to produce a straight coastline. The sea level has risen globally 4-6 inches during the past 100 years. It is expected to rise another 6 inches to three feet by 2100.