Earth and Environment Atlas

How The Planet Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Process

Coastal Erosion

Geomorphology

Coastal erosion is the loss or displacement of land, or the long-term removal of sediment and rocks along the coastline, due to the action of waves, currents, tides, wind-driven water, waterborne ice or the impacts of storms. The landward retreat of the shoreline can be measured over a temporal scale of tides, seasons and other short-term cyclic processes. Erosion may be caused by hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and corrosion by wind and water. On coasts where rock layers or fracture zones differ in resistance, softer areas erode faster than harder ones and leave landforms such as tunnels, bridges, columns and pillars. According to the IPCC, sea level rise caused by climate change will increase coastal erosion worldwide.

Facts
Driving Force
Driving Force (category)
Hydrological / Water 1
Driving Force (category)
Wind / Aeolian 1
Connections

Associated With

Source Wikipedia: Coastal erosion

In Discipline

Source Wikipedia: Coastal erosion
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Coastal erosion
Wikipedia
  • Lead
    Coastal erosion is the loss or displacement of land, or the long-term removal of sediment and rocks along the coastline due to the action of waves, currents, tides, wind-driven water, waterborne ice, or other impacts of storms.
  • Lead, wind
    Also erosion commonly happens in areas where there are strong winds, loose sand, and soft rocks.
  • Associated With: Sea Cave, Mechanisms, Hydraulic action
    Over time, the cracks can grow, sometimes forming a cave.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.