Beach processes

Abstract

Although seemingly simple in appearance, beaches are complex systems where many aspects of their formation are incompletely understood. The morphological results of interactions between processes and materials are categorized in a range of processes-based beach types that are easily recognizable on beaches of the world. Beach processes are observed to operate over myriametric (macro-, meso-, micro-) scales and a range of time frames with grains on the beachface changing by the second to some sand bars that may persist for hundreds of years. Complete understanding of how beaches evolve (accrete) and devolve (erode) over time in different kinds of sedimentary environments provides scope for future studies that involve observation by various means in field and laboratory.