What is causing coastal erosion in northern part of the east coast?
Coastal Erosion and Sediment Transport Coastlines are zones along which water is continually making changes. Waves can both erode rock and deposit sediment. Because of the continuous nature of ocean currents and waves, energy is constantly being expended along coastlines and they are thus dynamically changing systems, even over short (human) time scales. Erosion by Waves As we discussed previously, the motion of waves is only felt to a depth of 1/2 times the wavelength. Thus, waves can only erode if the water along a coastline is shallower than 1/2 times the wavelength. But, when the wave breaks as it approaches the shoreline, vigorous erosion is possible due to the sudden release of energy as the wave flings itself onto the shore. In the breaker zone rock particles carried in suspension by the waves are hurled at other rock particles. As these particles collide, they are abraded and reduced in size. Smaller particles are carried more easily by the waves, and thus the depth to the bott
