Longshore Drift
The process of sediment transportation along the coast through a combination of swash directed at an angle to the shore and backwash perpendicular to it. This creates a net sediment movement parallel to the coastline.
Real World
At Chesil Beach in Dorset, longshore drift driven by south-westerly prevailing winds has transported and sorted pebbles along 29 km of coastline, with gravel size increasing from west to east.
Exam Focus
Distinguish swash angle from backwash direction explicitly; many students describe the process but fail to name the mechanism causing net lateral movement.
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