Longshore Drift

Longshore Drift (Littoral Drift)

• The term longshore drift, also referred to as littoral drift, is a way in which sediment is moved. This is a particular movement of waves, in which waves move forward and backward along the coast.

How Longshore Drift occurs

• It is generally true that, under normal conditions, waves go in and out. It is also generally true that waves are controlled by the force of the wind. Longshore Drift occurs as a result of both of these facts, as it occurs when waves move back out to sea, and then the wind pushes it up the beach, this causes sediment to travel with the waves, moving back out to sea, then drifting with the wave along the coast.

Combating Longshore Drift

• Longshore Drift can lead to substantial damage along the coast, as sediment is moved along the coast, eventually moving past the edge of the coast. Groynes are built to prevent Longshore Drift this has the positive of preventing damage, however they can be ugly on the beach.