Marine erosion: types, examples and consequences

Let’s start by clarifying what marine erosion is, that is, what is the Marine erosion definition. We can say that it is the continuous breakow of the coast and also the elimination of sediments, mostly caused by the effect of waves and marine currents and, to a lesser extent, by tide and marine fauna.

Some of the Characteristics of Marine Erosion are the following:

• This phenomenon happens both in the rocks and in the sand.
• The speed of wear is determined by the amount of rocks present on the coast.
• The smaller amount of rocks, faster is the erosion process.
• With regard to the large rocky formations, they are not homogeneous but have softer rocky areas.
• In softer rock areas erosion can act more intensity giving rise to different formations for marine erosion, of which we will talk in another section.

As mentioned in the previous section, marine erosion is mainly caused by the effects of waves and marine currents. That’s how it is How sea erosion occurs:

Surf

The waves are a powerful force that causes Marine erosion for degradation Of the coasts and its force can triple during the storms. They are composed of two movements: the first, constructive movement, where the wave rises and hits the coast by degrading it. The second, setback movement, in which the wave retracts and drags sediments. Although the waves are continuously degrading the coasts, the modifications by erosion take thousands of years. Here we show you a brief video about the waves.

Sea currents

The main effect of sea currents is sediment drag. When the wave retracts, it produces a background current, that is, a perpendicular movement with respect to the wave stream, in which it carries the sediments of the coast. In addition, the currents can occur in parallel direction, when the waves hit the coast in oblique.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x33Optsinpk

Next, we will tell you the different Marine erosion types that exist and its peculiarities.

Abrasion

It happens by the friction between the rocks of the coast and those that are dragged by the waves. The results of abrasion depend on the size of the rocks and the speed of its displacement.

Hydraulic starts

Hydraulic starts occur when sediments are little settled. When the waves hit them, the sediments are completely dragged.

Corrosion

Here the salts present at sea come into play. They have the ability to dissolve many materials, including limestone rock. In this way, the rock degrades into small fragments and contributes to abrasion.

Biological processes

In the biological processes, marine fauna intervenes, however, its involvement in marine erosion is practically insignificant. Its effect is because some marine animals, due to their behavior, are capable of degrading the rock or transporting fragments of limestone to form coral reefs. For its part, marine vegetation also influences erosion since with its roots they facilitate the rupture of the rocks.

Marine erosion is one of the relief formation processes and geoforms. For this reason we will teach you What geoforms are given by marine erosion:

• ACANTILADOS: One of the best known marine geoforms is the cliffs. They are defined as steep rocky pending caused by the continuous clash of the waves.
• Marine arches: They are cliffs that have a drilling. This drilling is a product of coastal erosion processes intensified in a particular area.
• Sea Caves: The sea caves originate when the wear of rocks of less hardness is produced than the rest of the rock of the cliff.
• Coastal arrows: They are produced by the sediment deposit arranged in parallel to the coast. In general, coastal arrows are linked to the coast at some point.
• Abrasion platforms: These are rocky platforms eroded by the action of the sea, which can be visualized when the tide reaches low levels.

If you read so far, you will know that the Marine erosion process is responsible for the various coastal reliefs that exist. However, the formation of the relief is not the only Marine erosion effect.

This erosive process presents important economic consequences For coastal cities. To understand these consequences, we must take into account that the sea mourner disperses beyond the coast and with it transports the same salts that cause corrosion of the rocks, a process described above. Like rocks, all material that is exposed to sea salts suffers some type of degradation and, therefore, house construction materials, buildings and more are not free to suffer from this degradative process.

After learning all this and seeing some images of marine erosion, you may now want to expand your knowledge reading these other articles about what is water erosion, types, causes and consequences and types of erosion.

If you want to read more articles similar to Marine erosion: types, examples and consequenceswe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.