The Classification and Origin of Beach Cusps

Among shore features, beach cusps have been the most difficult to explain. This is because of the quickness with which they grow when the exact adjustment required between waves and beach materials occurs. Beach cusps are here classified and the process of formation of each class described and explained. The fifth class is especially interesting and important as it is the one most commonly observed and the most difficult to explain. Numerous intercusp spaces were measured. These measurements show that the apparent uniformity of spacing of cusps is deceptive. Uniformity of spacing sometimes holds for short distances, but in a series of any considerable length the intercusp spacing commonly shows a wide variation.