Coastal processes such as waves, tides, erosion, and deposition shape shorelines. Waves transport energy from the sun and create longshore currents that move sediment parallel to shorelines. Tides are daily fluctuations in ocean height caused by the sun and moon's gravitational pull. Coastal erosion wears away rock and cliffs through wave action, currents, and chemicals. It focuses on headlands, forming caves and stacks. Seawalls and dunes can prevent erosion. Coastal submersion occurs when sediment exceeds the capacity for transport, building beaches, spits, and hooks. Saltwater intrusion pollutes coastal freshwater aquifers as groundwater use induces seawater flow inland.

1. Shores and Coastal
Processes

2. Goal
To understand how coastal processes shape shores and
coastlines and how these processes affects us through
EROSION, SUBMERSION AND INTRUSION.

3. Coast and shore defined
Coast: Area of contact
between land and
sea—Extend inland
until meets a different
geographical setting
Shoreline: Precise
boundary where
water meets adjacent
dry land

4. Waves and Tides
WAVES
transport energy by motion—ultimate source of wave energy is the
sun
LONGSHORE CURRENT
Current that parallels shoreline developed by waves coming in at
an angle to shore—Maine sand found in NC

5. Waves and Tides
TIDES
Daily fluctuations in the height of the ocean—Caused by
gravitational attraction of water to sun and moon
TIDAL RANGE:
varies depending on
latitude and the
shape of the coasts
Bay of Fundy tidal
range up to 75 ft.
Hawaii tidal range
~1.5 ft.
High tide Low tide

6. Coastal Erosion
It is the wearing away of
rocks at the crust.
Wave
action
Tidal
current
chemicals

7. Coastal Erosion
WAVE ENERGY is focused on headlands: prominent cliffs
that jut out into deep water
• attack the sides of headlands and form sea caves, sea
arches, and sea stacks by undercutting them
Sea stack with sea arch in it

8. Preventing Coastal Erosion
• Can establish sand dunes and stabilize existing dunes
• Can build seawalls: concrete or riprap structures designed
to protect shoreline from waves
Riprap sea wall
Sea wall in action

9. Coastal Submersion
Occurs when amount of sediment exceeds wave/current
ability to transport it
Beaches: relatively narrow strips of sand, pebbles, or
cobbles deposited along a shoreline
• 90% of beach sediment comes from streams that drain to
coast—transported by longshore currents

10. Coastal Submersion
SPIT AND/OR HOOK
Narrow strip of sand that grows across the mouth of bay
due to longshore current (hooks are hook-shaped)
Cape Henlopen at mouth of Delaware Bay

11. Saltwater Intrusion
• Saltwater intrusion is a major concern commonly found
in coastal aquifers around the world.

12. Saltwater Intrusion
The induced flow of seawater into freshwater aquifers
primarily caused by groundwater development near the
coast.