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 land
1. 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 cave
3. Wave cut cliff- base of a
cliff is eroded and rock
above collapses.
4. Sea arch
5. 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