Beach

A beach or strand is a geological formation consisting of loose rock particles such as sand, shingle, or cobble along the shoreline of a body of water.

Components

Some geologists consider a beach to be just this shoreline feature of deposited material, but William Bascom (1980) has argued that a beach is the entire system of sand set in motion by waves to a depth of ten meters (30+ feet) or more off ocean coasts. Submerged, longshore bars are therefore also part of the beach. In the Bascom approach, beaches can be viewed as either

* small systems in which the rock material moves onshore, offshore, or alongshore by the forces of waves and currents; or
* geological units of considerable size.

Both types can be viewed as "beaches."
Lanikai Beach on Oahu
This gently-sloping beach face is topped by a
beach crest onto which a salt-tolerant grass
(Sporobolus virginicus) is spreading from the incipient dune

There are several conspicuous parts to a beach, all of which relate to the processes that form and shape it. That part mostly above water (depending upon tide), and more or less actively influenced by the waves at some point in the tide, is termed the beach berm. The berm is the deposit of material comprising the active shoreline. The berm has a crest (top) and a face — the latter being the slope leading down towards the water from the crest. At the very bottom of the face, there may be a trough, and further seaward one or more longshore bars: slightly raised, underwater embankments formed where the waves first start to break.

The sand deposit may extend well inland from the berm crest, where there may be evidence of one or more older crests (the storm beach) resulting from very large storm waves and beyond the influence of the normal waves. At some point the influence of the waves (even storm waves) on the material comprising the beach stops, and if the particles are small enough (that is, are sand), winds shape the feature. Where wind is the force distributing the grains inland, the deposit behind the beach becomes a dune.

The line between beach and dune is difficult to define in the field. Over any significant period of time, sand is always being exchanged between them. The drift line (the high point of material deposited by waves) is one potential demarcation. This would be the point at which significant wind movement of sand could occur, since the normal waves do not wet the sand beyond this area. However, the drift line is likely to move inland under assault by storm waves.

How beaches are formed

Beaches are deposition landforms, and are the result of waves or currents moving the sand or other loose material of which the beach is made as these particles are held in suspension or moved by saltation (a bouncing movement of large particles). Beach materials come from erosion of rocks offshore, as well as from headland erosion and slumping producing deposits of scree. A coral reef offshore is a significant source of sand particles.

The shape of a beach depends on whether the waves are constructive or destructive, and whether the material is sand or shingle. Constructive waves move material up the beach while destructive waves move the material down the beach. On sandy beaches, the backwash of the waves removes material forming a gently sloping beach. On shingle beaches the swash is dissipated because the large particle size allows percolation, so the backwash is not very powerful, and the beach remains steep.

Cusps and horns form where incoming waves divide, depositing sand as horns and scouring out sand to form cusps. This forms the uneven edge of a sandy beach.
Recreation on a California beach, first decade of the 20th century

Some beaches are artificial; they are either permanent or temporary (For examples see Monaco, Paris, Rotterdam and Hong Kong (Golden Beach, see Beaches of Hong Kong).

There are several beaches which are claimed to be the "world's longest", including Cox's Bazar, Fraiser Island beach, 90 Mile Beaches in Australia and New Zealand and Long Beach, Washington (which is about 30km).

Beaches and recreation

Beaches have long been a popular attraction for tourism and recreation. Especially popular are seaside resorts and large white sand beaches. Of course, residents and tourists alike use beaches as a place for leisure and sport. The relatively soft formation of sand is comfortable to sit or lie on, and entering and exiting the water is far easier across a sand beach than a rocky shore. The waves present at beaches add to the enjoyment and make the sport of body surfing and related activities possible. One of the many attractions of a sand beach, especially for children, is playing with the sand, building sand castles and other constructs.
A beach is a popular form of recreational "park"; here, Sunset Beach Park on O'ahu

Towels and mats are typical beach "furniture". In the Victorian era, many popular beach resorts were equipped with bathing machines because even the all-covering beachware of the period was considered immodest. This social standard still prevails in some Muslim countries. At the other extreme are nudist beaches, where swimware of any kind is discouraged.

Sounds of the Beach

Beaches are noted for their sometimes serene stillness and the rhythmic sound made by waves crashing upon the sand.