A beach is an area of sandy land at the water’s edge. It is often lined with sea grasses and other plants that have adapted to the salty coastal environment. Beaches are created and changed by erosion, deposition, and other forces that shape the shoreline. Beaches can be found at the ocean, rivers, lakes, and even some ponds.
A typical beach is composed of any granular material that can be worked by waves and currents, such as sand, silt, gravel, cobble, shingle, and boulders. Sand is the most common component of a beach, but it can also be clay, pebbles, shells, and even fragments of tree trunks and other solid objects. Beaches may also contain the remains of sea animals such as coral or shellfish. Beaches are always changing as the tide and waves deposit new materials and carry away others.
The process of beach formation starts with weathering, which breaks down rocks into smaller pieces. This can occur naturally, or it can be caused by people. The broken-down rock pieces are then carried away by streams or rivers and end up at the coastline. Over time, the rocks wear away (erode) from constant contact with water and wind. As more sediment is deposited on the beach, it builds up until the tide can no longer wash it away.
Waves are a major factor in shaping beaches. There are many factors that can influence the size and shape of a wave, including swell intensity and frequency, wind speed and direction, bathymetry, and what lies beneath the surface. The shape of a wave can have an impact on whether it forms horns or embayments. Horns usually gain sand (accrete), while embayments usually lose it (erode).
As the tide comes in, sediment is brought onto the beach from the ocean. When the tide goes out, it takes the beach’s materials with it, possibly a few meters or even hundreds of kilometers away. This is the main way beaches change every day. Beaches can also be affected by tidal surges, which are stronger than regular waves.
Beaches are an important part of our natural ecosystem. They provide habitats for many marine and terrestrial species. They also help to regulate the water levels in estuaries and lagoons by controlling the flow of freshwater from rivers and wetlands. Beaches also serve as a popular recreation spot for people around the world. The calming and rejuvenating effects of a day at the beach can be very beneficial for people living in hectic cities. A hobby like stand up paddle boarding can take us back to the basics, stripping away the busyness of life and leaving behind only ourselves, our bodies, and nature.