- The energyprovided by waves, tides and currents transports eroded material. There are four transportational processes:
- Traction- very big rocks/boulders are rolled along the sea bed by the force of the water.
- Saltation- pebbles and gravel are bounced along the sea bed by the force of the water.
- Suspension- very fine material like silt and clay, is whipped up by turbulence and carried along in the water.
- Solution- substances that can dissolve, such as limestone, are carried along in the water.
- Longshore drift- transportation of sediment along the coastline:
- Swash carries sediment up the beach, parallel to the prevailing wind.
- Backwash carries sediment back down the beach, at right angles to the shoreline.
When there’s an angle between the prevailing wind and the shoreline, a few rounds of swash and backwash move the sediment along the shoreline.