What term describes the movement of water that drains back from the shore, carrying loose sediment seaward?

• A. Rip Currents
• B. Beach Replenishment
• C. Backwash
• D. Longshore Drift

Answer: (C)

Water that drains back from the shore after a wave breaks is pulled seaward by gravity as backwash. This return flow moves the loosened sediment from the beach back toward the ocean, shaping the nearshore and contributing to erosion or redistribution of sand. The other options describe different coastal processes: rip currents are strong offshore flows through channels in the surf zone, not the general back-flow from the beach; longshore drift is the alongshore transport of sediment caused by waves arriving at an angle, not the drain-back of water; beach replenishment is the artificial addition of sand to a beach, not a natural water movement.