1. Shoreline Features

2. Waves along the shoreline are constantly eroding, transporting and depositing sediment.

3. 4 Forces Wave impact Abrasion Water pounding on the shore
Large waves, high energy & lots of force
Abrasion
Sawing & grinding action of rock fragments in water

4. 4 Forces (cont’d) Longshore transport Wave refraction
When currents flow parallel to the shore moving large amounts of sediment
Wave refraction
Bending of waves

5. LONGSHORE CURRENT
BACKWASH
SWASH
direction of sand drift
BEACH

7. Erosional Features
Coastal landforms that form as a result of erosion by waves

8. Wave-cut cliffs & platforms: formed by waves slowly wearing away coastal land

9. Sea arches & stacks: softer parts of headland eroded away by waves

11. Depositional Features
Result of beach sediment being transported along the shore and deposited where wave energy is low

12. spit: long, narrow deposit of sand connected at one end to the shore
end might hook in response to the dominant direction of the longshore current

13. The formation of a spit by sand movement in response to longshore currents.

15. sand bar that completely crosses a bay, sealing it off from open ocean
Baymouth Bar
sand bar that completely crosses a bay, sealing it off from open ocean

16. tombolo
ridge of sand that connects an island to the mainland or another island

18. barrier islands
narrow sand bars parallel to, but separated from, the coast at distances from 3-30 km offshore

21. sometimes a hazardous place to live because it is severely eroded by storms

25. Protective Structures
Man has developed many techniques to stabilize the seashore.
Many employ the use of
HARD STABILIZATION

26. Groins
structure that is built perpendicular to a beach to prevent sand from moving

27. Breakwater
structure build parallel to shore to create a “quiet zone” between the shore and the open ocean; used to protect boats from large, breaking waves

28. Seawall
built parallel to shore to protect property from breaking waves

29. Beach Nourishment
adding additional sand to a beach to replace sand that has been washed away; alternative to building protective structures