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An examination of nearshore zones on a global basis reveals that they are characterized by a wide variety of morphologies, which are dependent upon the wave and tidal conditions as well as the size of sediment that is present. Overall, it is a zone in which there is generally the capability for significant sediment transport both perpendicular to the beach as well as alongshore because of longshore sediment transport by wave action. In some nearshore systems, there may be a variety of alongshore bars or ridges of sediment that can eventually migrate landward and attach to the beach and thereby contribute to the seaward extension of the beach.
Nearshore and beach system in Portugal during low tide. The nearshore in this example would extend offshore from the outermost limit of breaking waves, and the surf zone would include the zone between the breaking waves.
Credit: Wikipedia: Littoral Zone is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
