Swash

Find out more about waves.

Waves are caused by the transfer of energy from the wind to the sea due to the friction of the wind on the water’s surface.

Find out more about waves.

Destructive waves

Find out more about destructive waves.

A wave is a disturbance on the surface of the sea or ocean, in the form of a moving ridge or swell.

Find out more about waves.

Constructive wave

Find out more about constructive waves.

Corrasion, abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and corrosion/solution.

Find out more about the processes of coastal erosion.

The wearing away of land by the sea.

Find out more about coastal erosion.

Coastal erosion is the wearing away of the land by the sea.

Find out more about the processes of coastal erosion.

Corrosion/solution is when certain types of cliff erode as a result of weak acids in the sea.

Find out more about the processes of coastal erosion.

Corrasion is when destructive waves pick up beach material (e.g. pebbles) and hurl them at the base of a cliff. Over time this can loosen cliff material forming a wave-cut notch.

Find out more about coastal erosion.

Salt weathering is when salt spray from the sea gets into a crack in a rock. It may evaporate and crystallise, putting pressure on the surrounding rock and weakening the structure.

Find out more about weathering.

Chemical weathering is the breakdown of rock through changing its chemical composition.

Find out more about weathering.

Weathering is the breakdown of rock in situ by the action of rainwater, extremes of temperature, and biological activity.

Find out more about weathering.

Recently weathered rock can be seen at the foot of chalk and limestone cliffs and is easily identified because it is angular.

Find out more about weathering.

Mechanical weathering is the breakdown of rock without changing its chemical structure (composition).

Find out more about weathering.

Traction – large pebbles and boulders are rolled along the seafloor.

Find out more about coastal transportation.

Littoral drift

Find out more about longshore drift.

Longshore drift

Find out more about longshore drift.

Any three from:

• Waves enter an area of shallow water/waves enter a sheltered area, eg a cove or bay
• There is little wind
• A river or estuary flows into the sea reducing wave energy
• There is a good supply of material and the amount of material being transported is greater than the wave energy can transport.

Find out more about coastal deposition.

Longshore drift happens when waves approach the beach at an angle. The swash (waves moving up the beach) carries material up and along the beach. The backwash (waves moving back down the beach) carries material back down the beach at right angles. This is the result of gravity. This process slowly moves material along the beach and provides a link between erosion and deposition. The material is transported through suspension, traction, solution and saltation. Longshore drift provides a link between erosion, transportation and deposition.

Find out more about longshore drift.