COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS

coastal environment

PROCESSES THAT GIVE RISE TO COASTAL LANDFORMS

 Wave characteristics:

• Fetch-length of time and distance over which wave was been blowing
• swash- friction with sea-bed in shallower water causes waves to break and run up the beach until they lose energy
• backwash- swash water runs back down beach due to gravity.

Marine:

• longshore drift- once rocks and sand are detached from the cliff, waves can move them over coastline.  Larger heavier materials will be deposited as waves lose energy.
•  wave deposition-  waves carry materials up beach, lose energy, and drop them.

Sub Ariel:

• weathering- rocks break down due to freeze-thaw, salt crystals, acid rain and vegetation roots.
• mass movement

LANDFORMS:

erosional:

• headlands- 
  • formed by continual erosion of…