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Sea waves and coastal landforms: Definition and their types
Sea waves and coastal landforms: Definition and landforms produced by sea waves erosion
Sea waves have a great erosive force. When the sea water loaded with rock fragments and sand attack the coastal rocks it is called abrasion. In their role of an erosional agent they perform four functions.
In the process of attrition rock particles present in the water hit against each other and break into progressively smaller particles.
Landforms Produced by sea Wave Erosion
Sea Arches :These broad doorlike features are called sea arches or natural bridges.
Sea Stacks :When the roof of an arch is broken by erosion or under its own weight or due to any other reason a part of the original rock remains standing as a solitary mass.Small underwater stacks are known as stumps.
Sea Cliff :The maximum impact of the sea waves is observed on the lower part of the coastal rocks and consequently the lower part of the rocks is eroded more rapidly than the upper part.
Sea Caves :Due to continuous compression of the air in the hollow, the rocks are subjected to a great pressure and they break.Due to differential erosion a hollow is created in the lower part of the rock.