Final answer:
A Beach Compartment or Coastal Cell consists of different geological zones including the backshore, the foreshore or intertidal zone, the inshore, and the offshore. These zones are critical to understanding sediment movement and are key in coastal protection studies and infrastructure development.
Step-by-step explanation:
A Beach Compartment or Coastal Cell is a geological unit within which sand and other sediments are contained and move. It is bounded by natural features, such as headlands, that prevent the free exchange of sediment with adjacent areas. The individual components of a beach compartment typically include the following:
- The backshore, which is the area above the high tide level where sediment can be deposited by aerobic processes and storm waves.
- The foreshore or intertidal zone, which is the area exposed during low tide and submerged during high tide, often hosting fauna like sea stars, sea urchins, and mussel shells. It serves as a critical habitat and is key for coastal processes.
- The inshore, which is the area extending seaward from the low tide line to the breaker zone.
- The offshore, which lies beyond the breaker zone and is constantly submerged, rarely affecting beach morphology.
Understanding these components is essential for the study of coastal processes, especially when assessing threats to coastal communities or constructing protective structures like breakwater systems.