Coastal Erosion

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Slide 1

Original Land surface

 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

Wave-cut platform

stump

stack

Natural

Arch

Old cliff

line

Slide 2

High tide level

 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

Joints and beds allow

waves to attack the cliff

more easily

Waves can use rocks to

erode the cliff

Wave cut platform

Wave cut

notch

Cliff line

Slide 3

 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

Groynes

Sediment accumulation

due to Longshore Drift

Waves approach beach

at oblique angle

Slide 4

 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

Wave-cut platform

Wave built terrace

large angular rocks

rocks and pebbles

soft sand

Ouch!

Slide 5

 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

The force of the waves pushes air

into cracks in the rock

The compressed air exerts enormous pressure at the tip of the crack. As the water falls back the air pressure is released and rock is pulled out from the crack further enlarging the hole.

Slide 6

Constructive Waves

 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

Spilling Breaker

Powerful Swash

Weak Backwash

Slide 7

Constructive Waves

 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

Crashing breaker

Weak swash

Powerful Backwash