Littoral zone

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

The area of the coast that can be affected by wave action.

It is a dynamic zone which means its constantly changing due to the interaction between processes on land and in the sea.

These changes can be:
- Long - term due to climate or sea level changes
- Short term due to the tides, waves, and storms

Question 2

What are the four parts?

Answer 2

• Backshore is usually beyond the influence of wave action but can be affected during storm events
  
  • Foreshore is the intertidal area between high and low tide
  • Nearshore is the breaker zone where friction between the seabed and the waves causes them to break
  • Offshore is the area outside the influence of waves