There are five different types of coastal erosion:-
Hydraulic Action
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- It takes place due to the forces of the waves hitting the coastline.
- The air gets trapped in the cracks of the cliff face.
- In due course of time, the cracks will become larger which will cause the cliff to splinter away.
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Abrasion
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- It is a process through which the sand and small pebbles wash away from the shorelines.
- It is also known as the sandpaper effect.
- It mostly takes place during the stormy conditions.
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Corrosion
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- It is a process where the waves wash, away the sediments, rocks, or any other material over the bottom of the sea and wear away at the surface.
- The process of corrosion directly leads to the process of abrasion.
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Attrition
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- It is the process in which the already rocks from the coastline knock into each other and break apart.
- It causes the rocks to become smaller pebbles which eventually leads to the formation of sand.
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Solution
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- It is the process in which the weak acidic chemicals in the seawater react with the chemicals in the rock, causing the rock to erode.
- Chalks and limestone cliffs are particularly vulnerable to such kind of erosion. because they contain calcium carbonate.
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Coastal Erosion
Coastal Erosion is the wearing away of the land near the coastline. It removes sediments from beaches, dunes, cliffs, and coastal wetlands, mainly due to wind, waves, high tides, and storms. Coastal erosion is a natural process that shapes the world’s coastline but is also a significant environmental issue.
This article will focus on the causes, types, impacts, case studies, management studies, and some interesting facts related to coastal erosion.