University:
McMaster University
Course:
EARTHSC 1G03 | Earth and the Environment
Academic year:

2024
Views:

359

Pages:

2
Author:

Sabrina S.

Lecture Notes: Coastal Environments Understanding Dynamic Processes Shaping Coastlines 1. Erosion - Erosion is the process whereby land is gradually reduced and/or the beach or dunes are dismantled by waves and/or tidal currents, wave currents or Drainage. 🌪️ Wind Erosion: The technique by which the wind throw s away surface matter. 🌊 Wave Erosion: Surge which when repeated can lead to major effects We have earlier seen where the waves constantly crash on the shore. 2. Deposition - Deposition can therefore be defined as the geologic process of build up of sediment, soil as well as rocks onto a landform or maybe even onto a landmass. 🪨 Formation of Sand Dunes: Wind blows sand to new areas and this creates dunes. 🏖️ Beach Formation: Water waves and currents move sand and gravel and accrete it on the strand. 3. Sea-Level Changes: Specific reasons, which produce sea level fluctuations, may concern alterations in the volume of seawater and in the geometric characteristics of ocean basins. 🔺 Eustatic Changes: Climatic fluctuations that produce alterations in the surface area of the planets oceans. 🔻 Isostatic Changes: The relative changes in the sea level at the location due to the shifting of Earth’s crust either upwards or downwards. Exploring Coastal Hazards ● Coastal hazards are threats that occur along the coastline and are characterized by risks arising from the natural world with potential to affect human beings, their activities and the surrounding ecosystems. 🌀 Storm Surges: Fluctuation of water level due to increase in water levels brought by floods, hurricanes, and other calamities. 🌊 Tsunamis: Back breaking waves in sea due to underwater Quakes or volcanic eruptions. 🏚️ Coastal Erosion: The slow wearing away of shores because of forces of nature, such as waves and actions of man that are precipitating shoreline erosion. Human Impacts on Coastal Environments Several studies have established that human activities make drastic changes in coasts that in most cases have negative impacts. 🏗️ Development: During constructions works such as those of the great buildings and some fixtures of the infrastructures, this lead to the enhancing of erosion. 🚢 Pollution: From the emissions of ships and factories as well as wastes originating from populated areas, water quality is affected and is unfriendly to sea life forms. 🌾 Agriculture: Water from these fields can drain into the sea polluting the water, encouraging growth of algae and harming aquatic life.