Photo 16 (Return)

Mudeford Beach, 2001. Waves drive some sands from the Christchurch Harbour ebb tidal delta to the shore where drift continues to the northeast (see accumulations against groynes). Rapid currents from the nearby harbour approach channel sweep the beach toes and entrain sediment. In recent decades losses have outstripped supply so that the wide sandy beach seen here has been created by recharge and is controlled by rock groynes. Note the cliffing of the beach fill as it becomes worked by wave action.