What is Long Shore Drift?

Waves that hit the beach at an angle carry sand and gravel up the beach face at an angle. When the water washes back the sediment is carried straight back down the beach face.

 Individual particles are moved along the beach in a zig zag pattern.This is called longshore drift.

Longshore drift causes spits to build up at the mouth of rivers or at the end of a point of land.

Longshore drift also builds barrier beaches and barrier islands. Barriers are long narrow strips of sand and gravel that are separated from the main shore by lagoons, marshes and mud flats.