Landforms of coastal erosion

Define the term; Marine erosional process

Where wave action on coasts causes three types of erosion; hydraulic action, abrasion and corrosion.

These processes are most important when there are high enery waves such as storm waves (associated with storm conditions) strike the coasts which are made up of incoherent rock (easily eroded)

Describe Hydraulic Action

Wave compresses air in cracks in the rock face, pressure increases and when wave retreates, pressure explodes forcefully out of crack/joint causing it to weaken. This can lead to collapses of rock (erosion)

Describe the process of Abrasion

High energy waves pick up pebbles and shingle from sea bead and this sediment erodes the base of the cliff- the result is a wave cut notch and the cliff is undermined and retreats through rockfall

Describe the process of Corrosion

Some rock can be susceptible to solution. For example Calcoreaos rock (lime) may be attacked by solution which leads to rock disintergration