wave erosion

Question 1

Abrasion

Answer 1

waves armed with rock particles - rock rubbing against rock

Question 2

attrition

Answer 2

rock particles - transported by wave action - collide with each other + with coastal rocks - progressively wear away - becoming smoother + more round - eventually become sand

Question 3

hydraulic action

Answer 3

when waves break against a cliff face and air and water gets trapped in cracks and crevices and becomes compressed - as the wave receded back the pressure is released - causes the air and water to suddenly expand - crack is widened

Question 4

pounding

Answer 4

when the mass of a breaking wave exerts pressure on the rock causing it to weaken - forces of as much as 30 tonnes per m2 can be exerted by high energy waves

Question 5

solution

Answer 5

dissolving minerals in coastal rock (magnesium carbonate minerals) - normally insignificant - but if water locally polluted and acidic