Constructive waves Constructive waves build beaches. Each wave is low. As the wave breaks it carries material up the beach in its swash. The beach material will then be deposited as the backwash soaks into the sand or slowly drains away. These waves are most common in summer
Destructive waves Destructive waves destroy beaches. The waves are usually very high and very frequent. The back wash has less time to soak into the sand. As waves continue to hit the beach there is more running water to transport the material out to sea. these waves are most common in winter.
Hydraulic action The waves cause air to get trapped in cracks in rocks then when the air pressure is too much the it breaks the rock away like a cork firing out of a bottle.
Abrasion Corrosion/abrasion is when waves pick up beach material (e.g. pebbles) and hurl them at the base of a cliff.
Solution Corrosion/ solution is when certain types of cliff erode as a result of weak acids in the sea.
Attrition Attrition is when waves cause rocks and pebbles to bump into each other and break up.
Long shore drift Long Shore Drift is caused by coastal transportation and deposition where material is moved along the coastline by the waves
Old Harry Rocks The chalk cliffs in the Harry Rocks, Ballard Point area are of a very dangerous and vertical type in many cases with no sloping transition and often as abrupt as the edge of a tall building
Cave Caves are formed when abrasion and hydraulic action works together attacking a crack in a cliff to form a cave.
Arch An arch is formed when the back of a cave has been eroded to the other side by hydraulic action and abrasion.
Stack The roof of the arch collapses leaving a column of rock called a stack.
Stump The stack collapses leaving a stump. Stage 5
Wave cut notch Wave cut notches are formed when the waves erode the bottom of the cliff forming a notch
Wave cut platform Wave cut platforms arte formed when a wave cut notch causes the cliff to collapse and form a platform
Headland Flambourgh head was formed because it is in the middle of two softer rocks. The other rock erodes away more quickly leaving a headland.
Beach Beaches are formed when there is a bay of calm water. The beaches are made because the water has almost no current to carry the sediment so it is deposited.
Spit h f The spit forms a sweeping curve which continues the line of the coast. The sand which forms the spit has been transported along the Holderness Coast by longshore drift. The energy in the waves transporting the material reduces where the North Sea meets the Humber Estuary. As a result the material is deposited. This process is known as deposition.
Rotational slip Rotational slips happen when a cliff is made of soft rock and soil, like clay. In a big down poor the rock may slip down the hill.
Gabions Gabions of heavy cobbles have been installed behind stout timber frames. The hillside has flowed seamlessly onto the gabions, confirming its mobility bl and the need for the gabions.
Curved sea walls Curved walls a sea defences. When the water comes into the walls it is sent back out again because the water follows the curve.
Groynes Groynes go out into the sea and split the current slowing it down to make calm waters
Revetments A rugged concrete revetment system that is the proven solution for tough erosion control problems comprising of a machine made concrete block that will withstand the ravages of time and weather.
Flamborough Head Arches, stacks, caves, stumps Beaches, Rotational slips Spit