Processes of erosion which affect cliffs

These are corrasion, abrasion , hydraulic action and attrition. Corrasion is when destructive waves pick up beach material e. Over time this can loosen cliff material forming a wave-cut notch. Abrasion occurs as breaking waves, concentrated between the high and low watermarks, which contain sand and larger fragments wear away the base of a cliff or headland.

It is commonly known as the sandpaper effect. This process is particularly common in high-energy storm conditions. The video below shows abrasion in action at Flamborough on the Holderness Coast.

Waves hitting the base of a cliff causes air to be compressed in cracks, joints and folds in bedding planes causing repeated changes in air pressure. As air rushes out of the cliff when the wave retreats it leads to an explosive effect as pressure is released. This process is supported further by the weakening effect of weathering. The material breaks off cliffs, sometimes in huge chunks.

This process is known as hydraulic action. It is commonly known as the sand paper effect. When waves hit the base of a cliff air is compressed into cracks. When the wave retreats the air rushes out of the gap. Often this causes cliff material to break away. This process is known as hydraulic action. Attrition is when waves cause rocks and pebbles to bump into each other and break up. You can find out about the landforms created as the result of coastal erosion here.

Transportation is the movement of material in the sea and along the coast by waves. The movement of material along the coast is called longshore drift. Longshore drift is the movement of material along the shore by wave action. Longshore drift happens when waves moves towards the coast at an angle. The swash waves moving up the beach carries material up and along the beach. The backwash carries material back down the beach at right angles.

This is the result of gravity. This process slowly moves material along the beach. This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access. Byrne, J. Coastal erosion, northern Oregon, in T. Clements, ed. Los Angeles, Calif. Google Scholar. McLean, R. The role of mass-movement in shore platform development along the Gosborne coastline, New Zealand, Earth Sci.