Introduction

In any study of either human or physical geography, coastal areas are of tremendous importance. They are the home for the majority of the world's population and their unique landforms reflect both past and present earth movements and climatic change. The coast, like the drainage basin of a river, is a complete geomorphological system. Into this system comes energy in the form of movements of the land, waves, winds and tides and also sediment resulting from the erosion of the coast itself, brought down to the sea by rivers. Outputs from the system include the energy expended by waves and sediment deposited on beaches and the sea floor. Other outputs are the coastal features themselves.

The major factors in determining the type of coastline have been the changes in the relative levels of land and sea. Individual details and coastal features, within the general type of coastline, are formed by the action of waves and currents with some influence from other factors such as wind erosion.

Lizard Point, Cornwall

Contents

• Coastal Landforms - Key Points

• Changes Of Sea Level
• Eustatic Changes
• Formation Of A Ria
• Coastal Types
• Isostatic Changes


• Waves
• Coastal Erosion
• Cliff Recession
• Erosion Of A Headland


• Coastal Deposition
• Beaches
• Beach Features
• Longshore Drift
• Other Features Formed By Deposition


• Marshes
• Salt Marshes
• Sand Dunes


• Human Intervention

• Glossary