Erosion and Waves

There are many things to love about beaches and what makes them so special is the feeling you get when you walk on them. Beach sand feels so soft under your feet, it is almost indescribably heavenly. The white sand doesn’t seem to have a life of its own but instead it seems to just melt into the palm of your hands. The texture of beach sand on your bare feet is another thing that makes the experience all the better. You can’t help but marvel at such perfection and how such a small piece of earth can make such a difference in our lives.

Shimmering sand (also known as “beach sand”), is the most common type of beach sand and is usually brown, appearing somewhat coarse due to its coarse nature. It is not slippery at all but instead just looks like coarse sand, almost like coarse gravel. Beaches filled with shingle beach are generally grey or brown, varying depending on the season. They are the most popularly seen in the oblong shaped, round-shaped form of an ellipse, or a square-shaped sea-shape.

Ocean beach is formed when a body of water pushes against the shore or against its edge. When the body of water recedes, the waves wash the sand away creating a flat beach. This happens in many areas around the world including Australia. Usually, this happens when there is too much rainfall or too much ocean wave. In addition to creating a beach, ocean beach is also vulnerable to erosion by wave and eroding back into the sea (sometimes referred to as “coastal erosion”).

Coastal erosion can be caused by the sea wave to break up the beach, the rising tide to wash sand away, and even winds to erode the beach. Coastal erosion can be the result of natural processes as well as human activities. Beach fringing, where the shore is pushed inland due to waves or erosion, can create estuaries. Estuaries are bodies of water located near the coast, often for a considerable distance seaward of the beach.

Coastal erosion and waves can cause harm to the ecosystem and people living near the beach. Coastal pollution refers to the discharge of toxic wastes into the sea from landfills, or from other sources such as plastic bottles. Dispose of waste at sea must comply with applicable laws. Sediment can also cause harm to the marine life when it mixes with the food chain or with oxygen.

Seawater extraction may help in decreasing beach erosion and waves. It may also help prevent or mitigate the damage done by waves, resulting in less damage to the sand. During high tide, beach edging and steep cliffs can damage houses, damage the sand dune environment, and interrupt the flow of sand in and out of the beach margin. A well-designed sea wall can help keep the beach clean and safe, as well as protect the environment and people living nearby.