General informationSediments are a natural material degraded by weathering and erosion. Sediment formation begins when igneous or metamorphic rocks are exposed on the Earth's surface. The long process begins with erosion. The first thing that happens to an igneous or metamorphic rock when exposed to the Earth's surface is weathering. All rocks, regardless of their type, are sensitive to weathering. Weathering is part of erosion and consists of any process that breaks up rocks. Some examples, called agents of erosion, are water, wind, ice and gravity. Weathering breaks rocks into sediments. The sediments formed are usually transported to other locations by water, wind, ice, or gravity. This action is called filing. The three most important means of transportation in Long Island's history are: river (water), coastal, and glacial. Sediments moved by water can be much larger than those moved by air. Wave movements carry sediment to shore and deposit it. Deposition is the sedimentation or placement of sediment. Deposition occurs when the energy causing sediment transport becomes unable to move the sediment due to the weight of the sediment, other particles, or friction. This means that sediments are deposited in order of weight or size. The largest sediment settles first. You will generally see a gradual change in the size of the sediment, from largest (being furthest out in the ocean) to smallest (being furthest away). Sediment size is measured on a scale called "Phi" which measures from colloid (the smallest sediment) at >10φ to rock (the largest possible sediment) at <-8φ. The symbol for the Phi measurement is φ. From smallest to largest, the scale goes from colloid, clay, silt, ve...... middle of paper......on the dune to hold the sand together. This helps the beach resist harmful erosion from storms and prevents sand from being washed away. An example of a beach on a barrier island is Jones Beach. This explains the dunes in the background and the round, fine, powdery sand. With all the information gathered, I can conclude that the North Shore and South Shore beaches are very different. North Shore beaches are rocky, disorganized, jagged and rough. The beaches of the South Shore are smooth, fine, uniform and have dunes. I conclude that this is due to the geography of the two banks. The North Shore was heavily affected by glaciers which deposited rocks and eroded the land. The South Coast has been heavily eroded by coastal and wind erosion. This is due to its location in the barrier islands and the Atlantic Ocean. The North Shore and South Shore beaches are very different.