Relating to movement or processes that occur parallel to a shoreline. Most commonly describes the longshore current that transports sediment along beaches as waves approach at an angle.
From 'long' meaning 'alongside' and 'shore.' The term emerged in coastal geography during the early 20th century to describe the dominant direction of sediment transport that shapes most of the world's coastlines.
Longshore drift is like a giant natural conveyor belt that builds barrier islands and moves entire beaches! In some places, this process transports millions of tons of sand per year, literally carrying pieces of one continent to another over geological time.
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