1. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 10 The Coast: Beaches and Shoreline Processes

2. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter Overview Coastal regions have distinct coastal features. The beach is a dominant coastal feature. Waves affect deposition and erosion of sand. Sea level changes affect the coast. Different coasts have different characteristics. Humans have attempted various coastal stabilization measures.

3. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. U.S. Coasts Three coasts: –Atlantic coast –Pacific coast –Gulf coast Each has its own unique characteristics.

4. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. U.S. Coasts Three coasts: Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf Coast Each has its own unique characteristics.

5. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Atlantic Coast Most coasts open to storm wave attack Barrier islands common from Massachusetts south Bedrock –Florida bedrock is resistant limestone. –Northward through New Jersey is composed of easily erodable recent deposits. –New York through Maine has glacier-affected rocks.

6. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Atlantic Coast Strong storms called nor’easters can damage the coast north of Cape Hatteras, NC. Nor’easters can generate storm waves up to 6 meters (20 feet).

7. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Atlantic Coast Average erosion is 0.8 meter (2.6 feet) per year; sea is migrating landward Delaware, New York, and Georgia have the most serious erosion problem. Northern Maine may still be rebounding from last ice age – sea level dropping

8. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Atlantic Coast Barrier islands Drowned river valleys –Common –Form large bays

9. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Gulf Coast Low tidal range Generally low wave energy Tectonically subsiding Mississippi delta dominates –Locally sea level rises due to compaction of delta sediments Average rate of erosion is 1.8 meters (6 feet) per year.

10. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Pacific Coast Tectonically rising Experiencing less erosion than Atlantic or Gulf coasts Open exposure to high energy waves Average rate of erosion 0.005 meter (0.016 feet) per year