Regardless of where you live, beaches are a popular recreational destination. The beach may be made up of sand, rock fragments, mud, or seashells. Many sandy beaches are developed as resorts, hotels, or other businesses. Some beaches even have man-made facilities, such as showers or lifeguard posts. In addition to being popular with people, beaches play an important cultural role. Beaches can change in size, shape, and location over many years. The type of beach you find depends on the type of sediment and waves in your area. There are three main types of beaches: wave-dominated beaches, dissipative beaches, and intermediate beaches. Beaches also change due to land level changes. Changes in surface water flows, burning of vegetation, and other weather events can alter surface wind patterns and the amount of sediment moving along the beach.
Beaches may also be made up of other materials. Sand and seashell fragments are usually produced from the erosion of rocks offshore. Other materials include rocks, pebbles, and seaweed. In some locations, the beach may be composed of sand that is organically derived from biologic components in the nearby ocean. Beaches also are a popular location for birds to nest.
Beaches are created by waves, tides, and currents. Waves erode the ocean, washing up sediments. The resulting sand particles can range in size from sand to boulders. Sand is usually produced from the erosion of rocks and coral reefs offshore. The material is then transported hundreds of kilometers away by ocean currents. Beaches are typically made up of a berm and a surf zone. The surf zone is the area most affected by the beach. The surf zone is also the area of the beach that is most dynamic. The surf zone is affected by the size and intensity of waves associated with different seasons. During periods of intense weather, beaches may be eroded and exposed to less resilient soils. If a beach is subject to intense erosion, it can collapse. In addition, beach erosion can lead to the collapse of overburden, which may affect habitat and habitat quality.
Wave-dominated beaches are produced by waves that break on a relatively steep beach face. This is often caused by waves that are too small to break on a low gradient slope. These waves can also break as spilling waves or surging waves on steep slopes. In addition, waves can also break as plunging waves on moderate gradient slopes. The surf zone is also a part of the beach that is more susceptible to erosion than other parts of the beach.
Intermediate beaches are produced by waves that are a little larger than waves that break on a steep slope. Intermediate beaches have swash zones that are a range of one to eight degrees. They are usually cut by regular rip channels. In addition, intermediate beaches have a bar that is at least one hundred meters wide. During strong storms, these beaches are usually closed.
Beaches are affected by large cyclonic storms. These storms are usually accompanied by strong waves. These storms can cause the waves to break on the beach and redistribute beach sediment. They are also responsible for drownings. They are also a hazard to beachgoers. These storms often affect beaches on the eastern side of continental landmasses.