foreshore

geology

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June 17, 2026

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The foreshore is the strip of land bordering a body of water, specifically the part of a seashore between the high-water and low-water marks. This area is a dynamic environment where waves and tides play a significant role in shaping landforms. Beaches, a common feature of the foreshore, are composed of sand, gravel, or mud and are intimately connected to the adjacent nearshore environment.12

The foreshore can be divided into two parts: the steeper, seaward-sloping foreshore itself (the intertidal beach) and the nearly horizontal backshore landward of it. Beach profiles change cyclically, with accretion during calm conditions and erosion during storms. The composition of the foreshore, such as grain size, influences its slope, with coarser materials generally resulting in steeper foreshores.2

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coastal landforms
Beaches
…seaward and relatively steep sloping foreshore, which is essentially the intertidal beach, and (2) the landward, nearly horizontal backshore. Beach profiles take on two different appearances, depending on conditions at any given time. During quiescent wave conditions, the beach is said to be accretional, and both the foreshore and backshore…
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…seaward and relatively steep sloping foreshore, which is essentially the intertidal beach, and (2) the landward, nearly horizontal backshore. Beach profiles take on two different appearances, depending on conditions at any given time. During quiescent wave conditions, the beach is said to be accretional, and both the foreshore and backshore…
Read More