The beach is the area between the lowest spring tide level and the point reached by the storm waves in the highest tides.

Find out more about landforms of coastal deposition.

A headland is a cliff that sticks out into the sea and is surrounded by water on three sides.

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Longshore drift happens when waves approach the beach at an angle. The swash (waves moving up the beach) carries material up and along the beach. The backwash (waves moving back down the beach) carries material back down the beach at right angles. This is the result of gravity. This process slowly moves material along the beach and provides a link between erosion and deposition. The material is transported through suspension, traction, solution and saltation. Longshore drift provides a link between erosion, transportation and deposition.

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Corrosion/solution is when certain types of cliff erode as a result of weak acids in the sea.

Find out more about the processes of coastal erosion.

A sandy beach is usually formed in a sheltered bays, where low energy, constructive waves transport material onto the shore.

Find out more about landforms of coastal deposition.