Coastal Erosion Processes:

Waves of Oscillation and Waves of Translation: Wind-generated waves may originate thousands of kilometers out at sea. Out in the deep open ocean, waves usually start out small and choppy. If the wind is strong and lasts long enough, the wave pattern becomes more organized. Storm-driven waves often travel towards the distant shore as low, rounded swells.

As swells approach the shallow coastline they begin to touch bottom As swells approach the shallow coastline they begin to touch bottom. Water drags against the sea bottom, slowing its forward movement. While the wave slows, water piles up, building higher and higher waves as the bottom shallows. Eventually the wave reaches a critical point when the steep advancing edge collapses. Breaking waves disintegrate into turbulent sheets of water called swash that carry sand and gravel up onto the beach.

Longshore Drift: Longshore drift is the movement of material along the shore by wave action. Longshore drift happens when waves moves towards the coast at an angle. The swash (waves moving up the beach) carries material up and along the beach. The backwash carries material back down the beach at right angles. This is the result of gravity. This process slowly moves material along the beach.

Longshore drift provides a link between erosion and deposition Longshore drift provides a link between erosion and deposition. Material in one place is eroded, transported then deposited elsewhere

Longshore Drift:                                                                                                                           

Longshore drift animation: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/coasts/coastaldepositionrev2.shtml

Piers can block longhore drift:

Groynes:                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Use of Groynes:

Wave Refraction:

Erosion of a headland A headland is an area of hard rock which sticks out into the sea. Headlands form in areas of alternating hard and soft rock. Where the soft rock erodes bays are formed either side of the headland. As the headland becomes more exposed to the wind and waves the rate of its erosion increases. When headlands erode they create distinct features such as caves, arches, stacks and stumps.

Types of Erosion: Corrasion/abrasion is when waves pick up beach material (e.g. pebbles) and hurl them at the base of a cliff. When waves hit the base of a cliff air is compressed into cracks. when the wave retreats the air rushes out of the gap. Often this causes cliff matrial to break away. This process is known as hydraulic action.

Types of Erosion: Attrition is when waves cause rocks and pebbles to bump into each other and break up. Corrosion/solution is when certain types of cliff erode as a result of weak acids in the sea.

Cliff Recession Erosion is greatest when waves break at the foot of a cliff. This causes erosion at the base of the cliff. This creates a wave-cut notch in the base of the cliff. As the notch increases in size the weight of the cliffs above become too much and the cliff collapses. This material will provide temporary protection for the cliff behind. However, once it has been removed by the sea this process will occur again. Where cliffs are made of more resistant material, wave cut platforms will be created.

Wave cut terrace:

Cave, Tunnel, Arch, Stack: Stage 1: Waves attack a weakness in the headland.

Stage 2: a cave is formed

Stage 3: Eventually the cave erodes through the headland to form an arch.

Stage 4: The roof of the arch collapses leaving a column of rock called a stack.

Animated Progression:

Diagram progression

Arch:

Stack:

Twelve Apostles: Australia

Basaltic Stacks:

Needles:

Erosion of “Jump-off Joe” Stack 1890

1910

1920

1970

1990

A: CAVE AND TUNNEL B: ARCH C: STACK

Tombolo: a sand bar joining a headland and a stack

Spit: Longshore drift moves material along a coastline. Where there is an obstruction or the power of the waves is reduced the material is deposited. Where rivers or estuaries meet the sea deposition often occurs. The sediment which is deposited usually builds up over the years to form a long ridge of material (usually sand or shingle). Such a ridge is called a spit.

Spit formation:

Spurn Head Spit:

Spit:

Blowholes: A weakness or crack in the cliff can be enlarged by wave erosion, forming a cave. If part of the roof of the cave falls in this can form a blow-hole. Waves rushing into the cave may then splash up the blow-hole inland.

Blowhole:

Coastal Submergence:

Coastal Emergence: