beach budget

beach budget Most beaches are in equilibrium—the material removed by erosion is compensated for by deposition. Along British coasts during winter, waves tend to be destructive, erosion outstrips deposition, and gradients steepen, but, with summer conditions, wave period lengthens, waves become constructive, deposition dominates, and gradients slacken, so that there is an annual pattern to the beach budget.

If this budget is upset by the building of substantial breakwaters or sea walls, sand beaches may disappear as their source of supply is cut off. Since beaches contribute to the protection of the coastline, the disappearance of a beach can lead to the problem of increased marine erosion.