Coastal zones

the interface between the land and water.

• The coastal zone

• Near the sea

• Sea zone

• Near shore

where waves steepen and break, and then re-form in their passage to the beach

• Foreshore

• Nearshore

• Backshore

• Beach

the part of the shore between the high-water mark and low-water mark.

• Foreshore

• Nearshore

• Backshore

• Beach

The part of the beach lying between the beach face and coastline. It is dry under normal conditions; it is often characterised by berms. Vegetation is generally sparse or absent. The backshore is only exposed to waves under extreme events with high tide and storm surge

• Foreshore

• Nearshore

• Backshore

• Beach

A narrow, gently sloping strip of land that lies along the edge of an ocean, lake, or river. Composed of materials such as sand, pebbles, rocks, and seashell fragments

• Foreshore

• Nearshore

• Backshore

• Beach

terrace of a beach that has formed in the backshore, above the water level at high tide

• Coast

• Berm

• Backshore

• Beach

The area of deeper water beyond the point at which waves begin to break.

• Shore

• Offshore

• Backshore

• Backshore