When people go surfing or swimming along a coast, they often find-after spending time in the water-that they are no longer in the area in which they first entered the water. In other words, they find that they have moved downshore, even though they did not deliberately move in that direction. This occurs because of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Longshore currents are currents parallel to the shore that are produced by waves coming in at an angle. They move sand and sediment along the coast, causing people in the water to gradually drift downshore without realizing it. Beach drift refers to the movement of sediment along the beach due to the action of waves, but is not usually strong enough to cause significant movement of individuals in the water. Tsunamis and tidal currents are also movements of water but are not typically responsible for the downshore movement of individuals in the water.

When People Go Surfing or Swimming Along a Coast, They