Mari ne and

Coas tal
Proce sses
By Group 3
What is Marine
and Coastal
Processes?
 Marin e Proce sses
Marine processes in physical geography refer to the various physical, chemical, and
biological processes that occur in the ocean and coastal areas. These processes include
coastal erosion, ocean currents, tides, and wave patterns. They also include the
movement of sediment, nutrients, and other materials through the ocean, as well as the
formation and distribution of marine organisms. Understanding marine processes is
important for understanding the Earth’s climate, weather patterns, and the overall
health of the ocean ecosystem. It also plays a key role in coastal zone management
and human uses of the ocean, such as fishing, shipping, and coastal development.
 3 Types of Marin e
Proces ses
Erosion Transportation Deposition
 Erosion
Coastal erosion refers to the wearing away of land and the reshaping of the coastline by the action of
waves, currents, tides, wind-driven water, and other natural forces. Coastal erosion can occur through a
variety of processes, including:
• Wave action: Waves can erode the coastline by breaking against it, causing the sediment and rock to
wear away over time. The power of the waves increases with the height and frequency of the waves
and the energy they carry.
• Longshore drift: This is the process by which waves approaching the shore at an angle (obliquely)
can cause sediment to move along the coastline. This can lead to erosion on one side of the beach and
deposition on the other.
• Tidal action: Tides can cause erosion by exposing the coastline to the erosive power of waves for
longer periods of time. Tidal action can also cause erosion through processes such as tidal scouring,
in which the force of the tide can carve out channels and caves in the coastline.
• Human activities: Coastal development, such as building seawalls and other structures, can disrupt
natural processes and lead to erosion.
 Erosion
Coastal erosion can have significant impacts on coastal
communities and ecosystems, and can also contribute to sea
level rise. To mitigate the impacts of coastal erosion, various
coastal management strategies have been developed, such as
beach nourishment and shoreline armoring.
 Transp ortatio n
Transportation in marine processes refers to the movement of sediment, water, and other materials through the
ocean and coastal areas. The main agents of transportation are currents, waves, and tides.
• Currents: ocean currents are the horizontal movement of water in the ocean. There are two types of ocean
currents: surface currents and deep-water currents. Surface currents are driven by winds and are responsible
for the large-scale circulation of water in the ocean. Deep-water currents are driven by differences in water
density and temperature, and are responsible for the vertical movement of water in the ocean. Both types of
currents can transport sediment, nutrients, and other materials through the ocean.
• Waves: Waves are the vertical movement of water caused by wind or other forces. Waves can transport
sediment, nutrients, and other materials along the coast and offshore. Waves can also erode the coastline and
reshape the coastline.
• Tides: Tides are the rhythmic rise and fall of water levels caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and
the Sun on the Earth. Tides can transport sediment, nutrients, and other materials along the coast and
offshore. Tides can also erode the coastline and reshape the coastline.
 Transp ortatio n
There are four process of transportation which are:
• Traction- large boulders and pebbles are rolled along the
seabed
• Saltation- small stones, pebbles and slit bounces along
the bed
• Suspension- fine material such as clay and sediment
carried by the sea
• Solution- dissolved minerals are carried by the sea
 Deposi tion
Deposition refers to the process by which sediment, rock, or other materials are laid down or
deposited by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice. Deposition can occur in a variety of
settings, including on land and in the ocean.
In the ocean and coastal areas, deposition is a process that occurs as a result of the
movement of sediment and materials by currents, waves, and tides. When the energy of the
water decreases, or when the water reaches a sheltered area or a place where the slope is less
steep, sediment and materials will be laid down, rather than being transported. Deposition
can occur in a variety of forms such as sandbars, dunes, and deltas.
Deposition can also occur in a river, where sediment is carried by the flowing water, and
when the velocity of the water decreases the sediment is laid down. This process can create a
variety of landforms such as meanders, bars, and floodplains.
Understanding marine processes is essential
for various scientific disciplines, including
oceanography, climatology, geology, and
biology, as they impact our planet's climate,
weather patterns, and biodiversity.
 Coastal Processes
Coastal processes refer to the natural actions and interactions that
shape the coastlines of oceans, seas, and other bodies of water. These
processes are influenced by various factors, including waves, tides,
currents, weather, and human activities. Some key coastal processes
include erosion, deposition, sediment transport, and the formation of
coastal landforms such as beaches, cliffs, and barrier islands. Coastal
management and planning often focus on understanding and mitigating
the effects of these processes to protect coastal environments and
infrastructure.
 Coastal Processes
A coastal process is a way in which sediment is moved around the
coastal system. This can be through removing and/or breaking down
sediment (erosion and weathering), moving it around (transportation) or
adding sediment (deposition).

From this definition, it is clear that there isn't just one coastal process
behind the shaping of coastal environments. In fact, there are four main
types of coastal processes. Each of these four processes can happen in
slightly different ways, giving us different types of coastal processes.
 Types of Coastal Processes
There are four main types of coastal processes:
• erosion
• weathering
• transportation
• deposition
Erosion and weathering both break down the material,
transportation moves it around, and deposition adds material to
the landscape.
 Coastal Erosion Processes
Coastal erosion is the breaking down and transporting away of
material. This typically occurs because of interactions involving
the sea itself. As we mentioned earlier, there are different types of
coastal erosion. The main ones we are going to concern ourselves
with are abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and solution, all
actions that take something away from the coast.
 Coastal Erosion Processes
Abrasion- Coastal abrasion happens when a rock is carried along by the water and
smashes into a cliff, causing a piece of that cliff to break off. Abrasion breaks down
the material and then transports it away.

Hydraulic action- Hydraulic action is a type of coastal erosion done by the sea
itself. Have you seen waves crashing against the rocks along the coast? These
waves can be so powerful that they can cause the rock to break apart. The broken-
down rock is then carried away by the waves.
 Coastal Erosion Processes
Attrition- When it comes to coastal processes, attrition is the coastal process that
involves the breaking down of rocks by other rocks. While you might confuse this with
abrasion, the two are actually somewhat different. Attrition happens when pieces of
broken rocks that are floating in the sea crash into other broken pieces of rock in the
sea. Over time, those pieces erode, leaving smooth pebbles behind.

Solution- In coastal processes, solution is the process of a rock being dissolved by the
sea and then transported away. While limestone and chalk are very susceptible to
dissolving after coming into contact with seawater, not all rock types will be affected
by seawater.
 Coastal Weathering Processes
Coastal weathering is a type of coastal process that also involves the breaking
down of rock. Example, Erosion happens if a rock is broken down and transported
away by the sea. Weathering happens if a rock is broken down and left where it is.

There are 3 types of coastal weathering: mechanical, chemical and biological.

Essentially, this means that weathering can be done by physical factors (e.g. the
climate), chemical factors (e.g. acid rain and seawater) and/or biological factors
(e.g. animals burrowing into rocks). You can read all about these different
subprocesses in our explanation on Weathering.
 COASTAL TRANSPORTATION PROCESSES
In the same way that you can be transported by your feet, bike,
scooter, cars, bus, boat, plane and countless other forms of transport,
sediment can be transported by a range of coastal transportation
processes. In the same way that money or convenience might help
you choose your mode of transport, the type of coastal
transportation happening is often determined by the size of the
sediment or material being transported.
 Transportation process
Solution- As mentioned above, solution happens when a rock dissolves after
coming into contact with seawater and is then transported away within the
water. Example, Imagine putting a sugar cube in your cup of tea. The sugar cube
is transported around the cup via the tea. The same thing happens with material
(e.g. limestone) and seawater.

Suspension- Suspension transports material by carrying it along with the water's

flow. For this to work, the material often has to be quite light in weight. Silt is a
great example of something often transported via suspension. Silt is a fine type
of material (particles that are bigger than clay but smaller than sand) that is
often transported through suspension.
 Transportation process
Saltation- In simple terms, saltation describes transportation that happens when
material is bounced along the seabed. The type of material is often larger in size and
weight than those transported by suspension. This is because it is too heavy to be
transported, and the waves do not have enough energy to move the material by
carrying it. Some examples of materials that are transported via saltation are large
sand particles and small bits of shingle.

Traction- Traction is a transportation type usually saved for the largest and heaviest
materials in the water. These materials are rolled along the floor.
 Coastal deposition processes
So we know how material is broken down and how it is transported around coasts,
but how is it added to certain areas? The answer is, of course, coastal deposition.
Almost acting in complete opposite to coastal erosion, coastal deposition happens
when sediment being transported around is dropped. Over time, this can cause
material or sediment to build up. This is how we get our beautiful sandy beaches. So,
how does this happen?

When waves lose their energy, they drop the material they were carrying. This can
happen as waves slow down or when the water gets more shallow, or even when
there is not much wind keeping the wave's energy up.
THANK YOU!!!