Agents of Erosion and Deposition Devils Tower, WY icformations.htm

 Shoreline  Wind  Ice  Gravity Agents of Erosion and Deposition

Shoreline Erosion and Deposition  Shoreline: the place where land and body of water meet

Wave Energy  Waves: wind moving across the ocean surface  Size of wave depends on how hard the wind is blowing and how long the wind blows  Wave Trains: waves that travel in groups uninterrupted through ocean water

 Surf: when waves meet shallow water; the bottom of the wave drags against the sea floor, slowing the wave down; the upper part of the wave moves rapidly and grows taller causing the wave to curl and break under the weight  Wave period: the time interval between breaking waves Wave Energy Continued

Pounding surf: the energy released when waves break crashing into and breaking solid rocks back to the shoreline (how sand is made) Breaking waves crash against the rock shore, releasing energy

Wave Erosion

Wave Deposits  Beach: any area of the shoreline made up of material deposited by waves Beach in England Beach in Tybee Island, Ga Beach in Hawaii

Wave Angle and Sand Movement  Longshore current: a water current that moves the sand in a zigzag pattern along the beach

Offshore Deposits Waves erode material from the shoreline, longshore currents can transport and deposit this material offshore.  Sandbar: underwater or exposed ridge of sand, gravel, or shell material  Barrier spit: exposed sandbar that is connected to the shoreline kCpP9opADZDTuTyAdu-5hmEaAhtq8P8HAQ&z=11&ll= , &t=hybrid&lang=en

Summary  As waves break against a shoreline, rock is broken down into sand.  Six shoreline features created by wave erosion include sea cliffs, sea stacks, sea caves, sea arches, headlands, and wave-cut terraces.  Beaches are made from material deposited by waves.  Longshore currents cause sand to move in a zigzag pattern along the shore.