DEFINITION OF LITTORAL

The nearshore intertidal environment between the

high-tide and the low-tide marks, and the organisms that live

in this zone. The bottom sediments in this zone are strongly

affected by wave action, constantly being stirred and mixed,

so only very hardy benthic organisms live in this zone.

Because waves often approach the shoreline at an oblique

angle and return perpendicular to the shore, the sediments on

the bottom in the littoral zone are subject to a slow, steady

displacement parallel to the shoreline. This slow movement of

sand grains is known as littoral drift or longshore drift. The

greatest amount of transport occurs beneath the breaker zone

where individual sand grains may move as much as hundreds

of meters per day. Littoral drift of sand is strongly affected by

changes to the beach, including the construction of groins and

jetties. There are many examples where groins were constructed,

and beaches down-drift from the groins disappear soon

after. Likewise, there are many examples of where jetties were

constructed at the ends of inlets, disrupting the flow of sand

to the down-drift beaches, which gradually disappear. The

sand that used to replenish these beaches either moves into the

channel and forms deltas in the lagoon or is carried to deep

water by rip currents set up by the jetties.

See also BEACH; GROIN; WAVES.

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