Coastal erosion
The force of the sea changes the coastal landscape. wavesThe movement of water when affected by the wind. get their energy from the wind.
The size of the wave is determined by:
- the speed of the wind.
- the length of time the wind has been blowing.
- the distance of sea it has travelled over (the fetch).
The stronger the wave the more erosion it will cause.
The four processes involved in erosion are:
Hydraulic action
hydraulic actionErosion caused by the force of river water hitting cracks in the side of the river bank. The air in the cracks becomes compressed and then explodes outwards, breaking off bits of rock. is the sheer force of waves crashing against the shore and cliffA vertical rock face.. The power of the waves forces air into cracks, compresses it and blows the rock apart as the pressure is released.
Attrition
attritionThe wearing down of the load as the rocks and pebbles hit the sea bed and each other, breaking into smaller and more rounded pieces. happens when rocks and pebbleSmall, round rock. carried by the waves smash into each other, wearing each other away and gradually becoming smaller, rounder and smoother.
Abrasion
abrasionWhen rocks carried by the sea water wear away the landscape, eg cliff face/headland. (also called corrasionWhen rocks carried by water wear away the landscape (also called abrasion)., is the process of rocks and pebbles carried by the waves wearing away rocks as they are thrown against cliffs.
Solution
solutionWhen chemicals in the water dissolve minerals in the rocks, causing them to break up (also called corrosion). (also called corrosionWhen chemicals in the water dissolve minerals in the rocks, causing them to break up (also called solution). is when chemicals in the seawater dissolvedWhen something is broken up in a liquid and no longer exists. minerals in the rocks, causing them to break up.