The 'littoral drift' along a coastline is the movement of sediment caused by:
Choose the correct answer
Only rainfall runoff carrying sand to sea
Oblique wave breaking and swash/backwash asymmetry — waves at angle to shore drive longshore transport of sediment
Only tidal currents perpendicular to shore
Wind blowing onshore at any angle
Correct Answer
B. Oblique wave breaking and swash/backwash asymmetry — waves at angle to shore drive longshore transport of sediment
Why is this the answer?
Littoral drift (longshore sediment transport): sediment carried along coast by oblique wave approach. When waves approach at angle to shore → oblique swash carries sediment up-beach at angle → backwash returns perpendicular → net transport along coast. Rates: 100,000–2,000,000 m³/year on sandy coasts. Interrupted by: jetties, groins, ports → downdrift erosion. CERC formula for longshore sediment transport rate.
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