Coastal landforms change over time because of natural processes that mainly include erosion and deposition.
1. Erosion:
Waves, especially strong and destructive ones, can wear away coastlines at speeds up to 1.8 meters each year! This erosion creates a few important features:
Cliffs: These are often made from soft rock. When the waves hit, they wear away the rock at the bottom, which can cause the top to fall.
Wave-cut platforms: These are flat areas left behind after a cliff has eroded.
2. Deposition:
On the other hand, gentle waves can deposit or drop materials on the shore. This helps create:
Beaches: These are made up of sand and pebbles, where you can see all the materials piling up.
Deltas: These form at the mouths of rivers, where sediment collects and builds up.
3. Coastal Wetlands:
Places like mangroves and salt marshes form when sediment builds up. These areas are very important because they provide homes for many plants and animals. They also act like shields, helping to protect the shore from strong storms.
Coastal landforms change over time because of natural processes that mainly include erosion and deposition.
1. Erosion:
Waves, especially strong and destructive ones, can wear away coastlines at speeds up to 1.8 meters each year! This erosion creates a few important features:
Cliffs: These are often made from soft rock. When the waves hit, they wear away the rock at the bottom, which can cause the top to fall.
Wave-cut platforms: These are flat areas left behind after a cliff has eroded.
2. Deposition:
On the other hand, gentle waves can deposit or drop materials on the shore. This helps create:
Beaches: These are made up of sand and pebbles, where you can see all the materials piling up.
Deltas: These form at the mouths of rivers, where sediment collects and builds up.
3. Coastal Wetlands:
Places like mangroves and salt marshes form when sediment builds up. These areas are very important because they provide homes for many plants and animals. They also act like shields, helping to protect the shore from strong storms.