Beach Profile

A beach profile is the cross-shore section of beach elevation from the dune or backshore down across the foreshore to the nearshore bars. It partitions into the backshore above normal high water, the foreshore or swash zone between high and low water marks, and the shoreface seaward of low water. Profiles cycle between a summer or swell profile, with a wide built-up berm fed by low-energy constructive waves, and a winter or storm profile, where erosive waves cut the berm back and move sand offshore into bars. Survey of repeat profiles quantifies the sediment budget, erosion, and accretion.