2.7 - Types of Erosion

Question 1

What does corrosion do?

Answer 1

Seawater and salt spray from waves react with rock minerals and actively dissolve them
Backwash carries minerals away
Carbonates are more vulnerable

Question 2

What does abrasion do?

Answer 2

Destructive waves pick up loose particles (rock, sand, pebbles)
Throw them against cliff face as they break
Small fragments removed from cliff face, wearing it down

Question 3

What is attrition?

Answer 3

Eroded particles collide with each other as they move around
Angular corners knocked off, become round
Also means more material for abrasion

Question 4

What happens during hydraulic action?

Answer 4

Air trapped in cracks compressed by force of crashing waves in cliff case
Pressure from water force opens cracks trapping more air
Wave retreats so pressure is released explosively shattering rock around the weak points