Coastal processes

• Coastal processes involve erosion, mass movement and weathering that break down and remove material from the coast.
• The material is moved along the coastline by the sea and deposited when there is energy loss.
• Erosion, transportation, deposition, weathering, and mass movements are processes that occur in coastal areas.
• Waves and wave types include constructive waves which help build up material on the beach, and destructive waves which remove material from the beach.
• The characteristics of a destructive wave are: weak swash and strong backwash, and they occur in stormy conditions with strong winds.
• The characteristics of a constructive wave are: small waves, with low wave height and long wavelength, and they occur in calm conditions without much wind.
• The swash and backwash determine the type of wave.
• Destructive waves remove sediment from the beach, while constructive waves add sediment to the beach.
• Constructive waves are steep and close together, while destructive waves are tall and far apart.
• Constructive waves arrive quickly and have a high frequency, while destructive waves come in a short period of time.
• Types of weathering include: chemical, mechanical, and thermal weathering.
• Types of mass movements include: rockfalls, landslides, and avalanches.