Characteristics and Formation of Coastal Landforms

The emphasis should be on the action of the types of wave. Constructive waves break gradually across a gentle beach profile and the forward surging swash builds and steepens the profile with berm ridges at the higher areas. Destructive waves break onto a steeper profile with a plunging action and backwash which combs material back to develop a more gentle beach profile. Many will add the creation of storm beaches and off shore and break point bars. Plan form may be ignored but drift aligned and swash aligned beaches should receive some attention for full credit, e.g. constructive waves breaking obliquely linked to long shore drift, spits and so on, or asymmetrical bay head beaches. Destructive waves breaking normally may create beach cusps.