Download wave erosion - Fort Thomas Independent Schools

WAVE EROSION
How do waves form?
• By wind that blows across the water’s
surface.
• The wind causes water particles to
move up and down as a wave goes by.
The water particles themselves don’t
move forward.
• Think of it as wind blowing tall grass
in the field. The grass moves back
and forth but doesn’t move from its
place.
Erosion by Wave
• Waves erode the land by impact and
abrasion.
• Large waves hit the rocks along the
shore causing them t to break apart.
• In shallow water, it picks up
sediments and then when the wave
hits the land it causes the sediments
to wear away rock like sandpaper.
Landforms created by Wave
Erosion
• Many features can be formed from waves
as they hit up against a rocky coast.
• It starts wearing away and form many
different types of features
• Examples:
– Sea caves
– Cliffs
– Sea stacks
– Sea Arches
– Pillars
Deposits by Waves
• Waves shape the coast through both
erosion and deposition.
• Deposition occurs when waves slow down
and the water drops its sediments.
• Features formed from wave deposition
– Beaches
– Longshore drift
– Spit
Deposition Formations
• A beach is an area of wave washed
sediments along a coast.
• A longshore drift the sediments moves
down the beach with the current.
• A spit is a beach that projects like a finger
out into the water.