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Coastal Erosion Definition

Coastal erosion is when the area where land meets the ocean changes over time. For example, when ocean waves move sand away, causing beaches to disappear.

View Lesson on Changing the Shape of Land
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Changing the Shape of Land

LESSON MATERIALSmove

Fun Facts

  • If the land beneath a house is moved away because of coastal erosion, the house can fall down.
  • Coastal erosion occurs where tides meet the shore.
  • Coastal erosion can cause beaches to disappear when ocean waves move sand away.

Why Do We Need To Know About Coastal Erosion

Learning about coastal erosion helps us understand how why it’s important to control it to protect the environment.  This affects different jobs like city planning.  Knowing about erosion helps architects and builders make sure they build on land that won’t easily wash away.

This knowledge is important because it helps protect homes and natural areas. It also helps the tourism industry by keeping beaches and famous places beautiful. Managing coastal erosion is important for many reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can wind change the shape of the land?
Wind can carry soil across a distance, such as sand dunes forming or being blown away. This is called wind erosion.
How can water change the shape of the land?
Water can carry tiny pieces of the Earth’s surface downstream, like how the Grand Canyon was formed by the flowing water of the Colorado River.
What are some examples of erosion?
Wind breaking down rocks and carrying the particles away is an example of erosion. You can also see how over time a river carries soil downstream and makes rocks in the river smoother.
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