Erosion
Geography: Cambridge International GCSE (2027 Exams), topic 1.7.1
Processes of Erosion
Erosion is the wearing away of rock by natural forces like waves or wind. The sea can build up a lot of energy and move quickly with a lot of force. This can make erosion happen faster. The types of erosion that affect coasts are:
Hydraulic action
- Hydraulic action is where the force of waves hits against a cliff face and causes rock to break off.
Solution
- Solution is where weak acids in seawater dissolve soluble rocks like chalk and limestone.
Abrasion
- Abrasion is where pieces of material are picked up by waves and hit or scrape against the sea bed or the side of a cliff.
- This wears away the sea bed or cliff because the material acts like sandpaper.
Attrition
- Attrition is when rocks and pebbles carried by a river knock against each other.
- This makes them break apart and become smaller and more rounded.
- The same process also happens with material moved by waves along coasts.
Test yourself on Erosion
Which process of erosion involves pieces of bedload hitting into one another?