What term describes the zigzag movement of sediment caused by the longshore current?

Prepare for the Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

What term describes the zigzag movement of sediment caused by the longshore current?

Explanation:
Longshore drift describes the zigzag movement of sediment along a coastline caused by the longshore current. When waves strike the shore at an angle, the swash pushes sediment up the beach at that angle, and the backwash pulls it back down perpendicular to the shoreline. Repeating this cycle sends sediment in a gradual, zigzag path along the coast, transporting material over long distances and shaping beaches and coastal features. Beach nourishment is the addition of sand to widen a beach, barrier island formation theories discuss how barrier islands form rather than how sediment moves along the shore, and an ocean beach is the sandy shore itself, not the transport process.

Longshore drift describes the zigzag movement of sediment along a coastline caused by the longshore current. When waves strike the shore at an angle, the swash pushes sediment up the beach at that angle, and the backwash pulls it back down perpendicular to the shoreline. Repeating this cycle sends sediment in a gradual, zigzag path along the coast, transporting material over long distances and shaping beaches and coastal features. Beach nourishment is the addition of sand to widen a beach, barrier island formation theories discuss how barrier islands form rather than how sediment moves along the shore, and an ocean beach is the sandy shore itself, not the transport process.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy