Longshore drift
Longshore drift is the movement of material along the shore by wave action. It 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 (water moving 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.
Wave Height
The wave height of a surface wave is the difference between the elevations of a crest (top) and a neighboring trough (bottom).
When a wave breaks at a more steep angle on the beach, longshore currents increase in velocity. This causes more material to be moved. A more gentle angle from a lower wave results in a lower velocity and less material moved.
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS
In order to log this EarthCache, send me your answers to the following questions either through email or messaging from my profile page.
1: Estimate the average wave height during your visit?
2: What direction are the waves coming from?
3: Can you see material being moved along the beach? If so, in what direction (north or south)?
4: Do you think material is being added to the beach (deposition) or removed from it (erosion)?
5: Post a pic of you or a personal item with the Lake Huron Beach in the background.
references
https://www.internetgeography.net
https://www.wikipedia.org
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