Final answer:
Drift-aligned beaches are formed due to longshore drift, where the movement and deposition of sediment along the coast are directed by the prevailing wind and wave patterns, influencing the beach's features and shape.
Step-by-step explanation:
Drift-aligned beaches, also known as longshore drift beaches, are those where the sediment movement and deposition are influenced by the direction of the prevailing winds and waves. This process causes sediments to be transported along the coast in a zig-zag pattern. Generally, such beaches have well-sorted gravel and sand, and the alignment of the beach features, such as spits and bars, corresponds to the direction of the dominant wave approach. These beaches are substantially affected by the intertidal zone, which is the area between the high and low tide lines, and subject to the foreshore and nearshore processes. The backshore, which is part of the beach beyond the high tide limit unhindered by vegetation, may experience wave action during high tides and storm surges, leading to changes in the beach profile.