Wave Erosion and Deposition

I. How Waves Form

1. The energy in waves comes from WIND that blows across the water.

2. As the wave gets into shallow water, it slows down and drags the bottom.

II. Erosion by waves

1. Waves shape the coast through erosion by breaking down rock and transporting sand and other sediment.

A. How waves erode land1. impact- large waves hit shore with great force and wave breaks rocks apart.2. abrasion- picks up sediment and when wave hits land, the sediment wears away rock like sandpaper wearing away wood.

B. Erosion landforms

1. headland- part of the shore that sticks out into the ocean. The harder rock resists erosion.

2. Sea cave3. Wave cut cliff- base of a

cliff is eroded and rock above collapses.

4. Sea arch5. Sea stack

Wave Cut Cliffs

III. Deposits by Waves

1. Beach- area of sediment washed along shore.a. most sediment comes from rivers that carry eroded rocks into ocean.

2. Longshore drift- sediment washes down the beach with the current.

3. spit- beach that projects like a finger out into the water.

4. sandbar- ridges of sand build up parallel to shore.

5. Barrier beach- waves pile up large amts. Of sand forming a long, narrow island parallel to the coast.

Beach Diagram