Coastal Erosion Processes

Coastal Erosion Processes

1. Coastal Erosion

   • Solution
     • dissolving of rocks in chemicals
   • Corrasion
     • rocks thrown at a cliff by sea
   • Abrasion
     • pebbles grinding a rocky platform causing it to become smooth
   • Hydraulic Power
     • waves smashing into cliffs
     • trapped air is forced into cracks
     • force of trapped air is called cavitation
   • Attrition
     • rocks hitting each other to become rounded

2. Coastal Transportation

   • Solution
     • particles dissolved in water
   • Suspension
     • particles suspended in the water
   • Saltation
     • hopping/bouncing motion of particles too heavy to suspend
   • Traction
     • pebbles rolled on seabed

3. Longshore Drift

   • sediment will be moved in a zigzag pattern when waves hit side-on
   • responsible for
     • beaches
     • spits

4. Coastal Deposition

   • waves lose energy in sheltered areas
   • causes waves to deposit sediment
   • wave refraction
   • responsible for
     • mudflats
     • saltmarshes