What causes wave erosion to increase?
As global sea level rises, the action of waves at higher elevations increases the likelihood for extensive coastal erosion.
What are the 4 main ways waves cause erosion?
Destructive waves erode through four main processes; Hydraulic Action, Compression, Abrasion and Attrition.
How does wind cause coastal erosion?
Wind erosion is a natural process that moves soil from one location to another by wind power. Wind erosion can be caused by a light wind that rolls soil particles along the surface through to a strong wind that lifts a large volume of soil particles into the air to create dust storms.
Does wave fetch affect erosion?
The fetch of the wave and the strength of the wind. Powerful winds and a long fetch create the most damaging (erosive) waves. The angle of the slope – steep slopes erode more violently and frequently. Weather conditions – freezing temperatures and heavy rain increase weathering and the rate of erosion.
What landforms are created by wave erosion?
Ocean waves have a tremendous amount of energy and so they may do a great deal of erosion. Some landforms created by erosion are platforms, arches, and sea stacks.
What is the main factor controlling cliff erosion?
Primary factors The ability of waves to cause erosion of the cliff face depends on many factors. The hardness (or inversely, the erodibility) of sea-facing rocks is controlled by the rock strength and the presence of fissures, fractures, and beds of non-cohesive materials such as silt and fine sand.
Do destructive waves have a strong backwash?
With a destructive wave, the backwash is stronger than the swash.
How does wave energy do the work of erosion?
Wave energy does the work of erosion at the shore. Waves approach the shore at some angle so the inshore part of the wave reaches shallow water sooner than the part that is further out.
How are wave cut platforms formed in erosion?
A wave-cut platform is the level area formed by wave erosion as the waves undercut a cliff. An arch is produced when waves erode through a cliff. When a sea arch collapses, the isolated towers of rocks that remain are known as sea stacks. (a) The high ground is a large wave-cut platform formed from years of wave erosion.
What makes the shallow part of a wave Bend?
The shallow part of the wave ‘feels’ the bottom first. This slows down the inshore part of the wave and makes the wave ‘bend.’ This bending is called refraction. Wave refraction either concentrates wave energy or disperses it. In quiet water areas, such as bays, wave energy is dispersed, so sand is deposited.
How are waves used to transport sand to the shore?
Waves transport sand onto and off of beaches, transport sand along beaches, carves structures along the shore. The largest waves form when the wind is very strong, blows steadily for a long time, and blows over a long distance.
