Erosion
The sea changes and shapes the coastal landscape. Erosion is the wearing away and breaking up of rock and beach material found along the coast. Destructive waves will erode the coastline in the following four ways.
- The constant force of waves crashing on the shore damages it. This is called hydraulic action.
- Waves bring with them bits of rock and sand. These help to grind down cliffs. This is called abrasion.
- Waves cause rocks and pebbles on the shore to smash into each other and break down. This is called attrition.
- Acids contained in sea water will slowly dissolve certain types of rock. This is called corrosion or solution.
