But longshore current and the resulting transport of sediment is only one of the dynamic processes that constantly alters the shoreline.  As waves repeatedly hit the shore, water  moves onto the beach and then retreats in a continuous cycle.  However, the waves are not all that moves on the shoreline.  In fact, the sediment on the shore is also always on the move.  Great energy is expended on the beach as waves crash against the shoreline.  This energy allows the water to transport sediment.  The grains are lifted as the waves in the swash zone move onto the beach, and then the grains are deposited again as the water retreats.  As long as the waves hit the shoreline  “straight on” (i.e., the wave crests are parallel to the shoreline), the sand grains will be picked up and redeposited in the same general area.  In this case, no real net movement of sand occurs in the swash zone.  However, waves generally do not form parallel to the shoreline, and thus, usually approach the shore at an angle.  Consequently, beach sand will have a net movement up or down the beach, depending on the direction of incoming waves.  This net movement of the beach sand is known as “beach drift.”

How does beach drift work?
    Figure 2 illustrates how beach drift operates.  Notice on the diagram the angle at which the waves hit the beach.  The water moves onto the beach close to the same angle.  Recall that sand grains are transported as the waves move onto the beach.  Therefore, the sand grains are being carried in the same direction that the waves are moving.  However, when the water retreats, due to gravity it goes straight back perpendicular to the shoreline and not back in the opposite direction from which it came.  Since grains are redeposited as the water retreats, the grains are actually deposited further down the beach or down longshore current.  Hence, the net overall movement of sand is down current.  Also, notice on the diagram that at a given point on the beach, the sediment that has moved downshore is replaced by sediment from further upshore, as long as sediment is available there.  The net movement of sediment in Figure 2 is to the south because the waves are hitting the shore from the north.  If the waves hit the beach from the south, the net movement of sand will be to the north.  Net beach sediment movement, or beach drift, can change back and forth with shifts in wave direction.  However, along any particular shoreline one direction for incoming waves usually dominates resulting in a preferential net movement of sediment.  Sediment transported by beach drift as well as that moved by longshore current together are called littoral transport.