Beach Barrier Sand Bodies

Beach and barrier island sand bodies occur along and are characteristic of wave-dominated coasts of low relief, or coasts which are characterized by sea cliffs of bedrock. The development and preservation of beach and barrier island deposits appear to be related to the relative intensity of wave processes and tidal processes along a coast line. As shown by Davies (1964), and later by Hayes (1975), coasts are classified into three groups according to tidal range (Table 3.1). Beaches and barrier islands tend to be preserved best in, and are characteristic of, microtidal coastlines, and in many instances, also of mesotidal coastlines.