Coastal Processes

Objective
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to describe how coastal processes result in coastal erosion, submersion, and
saltwater intrusion.

What are the different kinds of coastal processes? How do these processes result in erosion, submersion, and saltwater
intrusion?

Learn about it!

Coastal Processes
The landscapes along coasts constantly change. Coastal processes are naturally-occurring processes that bring alterations to
the coastal zones. They are interactions of marine, physical, meteorological, geological, and biological events.

Waves
Waves are created by the energy of the wind on the sea. The wind causes water particles to rotate and produce waves. Large
waves are usually formed during storms and typhoons. The height and energy of the waves vary on wind speed, duration of the
wave, fetch, and water depth. Fetch is an area of a water wave where the wind blows in a constant direction. The higher speed,
longer duration, wide fetch, and deeper wave have more energy than other types of wave.

Types of Waves
 Constructive waves have low energy and have a stronger swash (a wave that approaches the coast)
than backwash (a wave that recedes from the coast). They are responsible for material depositions.
 Destructive waves have a higher height and energy. They are significant forces of change in the coasts. In destructive
waves, the backwash is much stronger than the swash. Because of this, the coast has a higher tendency of erosion.
Strong destructive waves can carry a great load of sediments that could significantly alter the coastal landscape.

Tides
Tides are temporary fluctuations in sea levels due to gravitational forces between the sun, the moon, and the earth. They carry
less energy to the coasts but occur more often than waves. High tides occur when water levels are at their highest while low
tides occur when water levels are at their lowest.

Low-lying locations get submerged in seawater during high tide leading to submersion. Repeated exposure of the coasts to
submersion can loosen materials and cause erosion in the long run.

Learn about it!

Sea Level Rise
Faster sea level rise has been observed in the recent years. This is due to the warming of the sea and melting of glaciers. The
rise in sea level has become more permanent. This warming of the sea and melting of glaciers are due to enhanced greenhouse
effect brought about by carbon emissions from various human activities. Islands and even some countries are in danger of being
submerged underwater if the sea levels continue to increase. Sea level changes threaten low-lying areas to experience
submersion permanently.

Crustal Movement
Continents and landmasses have been formed and continuously shaped by the movement of tectonic plates. These plates move
because of the accumulated stress within the Earth's crust releasing energy and forming different landmasses. Coastal areas can
be changed by the movement of these plates.

Crustal movements can cause erosion, submersion, and saltwater intrusion along coasts. Its major effect is erosion followed by
submersion as a subsequent effect. It can also cause low-lying areas and islands adjacent to oceans or seas to sink. Saltwater
may also enter freshwater basins if crustal movements would cause cracks in the coastlines.

Storm Surge
Storm surge occurs when the wind from tropical cyclones cause sea water levels to be unusually higher than high tide levels. It
can go as high as 20 feet or more above the normal sea level. It is more likely to occur on coasts with gentle slopes than those
with steep slopes.

Some locations experience submersion during storm surge, which is not experienced during high tides. Erosion is also more likely
to happen because of the additional actions of waves during storm surge. Inland groundwater sources experience saltwater
intrusion. This happens when the seawater reaches the coastal areas and gets into groundwater and other freshwater resources.

Explore!
Mae has been living in a coastal barangay for 30 years. Recently, she noticed that during high tides, water could reach high
altitude as compared five years ago. The water could go further inland. What happened to the coasts near her barangay that
enabled water to reach further inland?

Try it!
Create a diagram of the different coastal processes. The diagram must show the similarities and differences of these processes
as well as their effects (coastal erosion, submersion, and saltwater intrusion) to coasts.

What do you think?

Coastal processes are naturally-occurring events. As humans, we do not have the capability and technology to prevent these from
happening though we can do some things to respond to these occurrences. How can areas near coasts be prepared for different
coastal processes?

Key Points

 Coastal processes are natural events that affect the features of coasts and nearby areas.
 The three primary effects of coastal processes are erosion, submersion, and saltwater intrusion.
 Tides cause an increase or a decrease in sea levels. Locations with increased sea level (high tide) are exposed to the
dangers of submersion. Constant submersion can also lead to erosion.
 The rise in sea levels causes submersion of low-lying areas.
 Crustal movements cause erosion, submersion, and saltwater intrusion.
 Storm surge endangers areas near coasts to submersion. Erosion can also occur because of wave action on storm
surges. Saltwater intrusion can also happen if the seawater reaches wells and reservoirs of freshwater.
 Q1
 They are natural occurrences that are primary contributors to the alterations in the coastal zone.
 Multiple Choice
 coastal processes
 coastal events
 coastal deposition
 coastal degradation
 Explanation
 Coastal processes are events that happen naturally. They are responsible for changes in the features of coasts.
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 Q2
 Which of the following factors interact with each other to form coastal processes?
 Multiple Choice
 marine
 meteorological
 physical
 industrial
 Explanation
 Coastal processes are formed through the interactions of marine, physical, meteorological, geological, and biological even
ts.
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 Q3
 Which of the following is produced when the wind acts on the sea and causes water particles to rotate?
 Multiple Choice
 waves
 typhoon
 tornado
 storm
 Explanation
 Waves are produced when the wind interacts with water causing its particle to rotate due to the presence of energy.
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 Q4
 Which of the following waves will cause the most severe damage to a coastal landform?
 Multiple Choice
 high speed, long-lasting, wide fetch, deep depth wave
 high speed, long-lasting, wide fetch, shallow depth wave
 high speed, short-living, narrow fetch, shallow depth wave
 low speed, long lasting, narrow fetch, shallow depth wave
 Explanation
 Wave speed, duration, fetch, and depth are factors that contribute to the energy of a wave. The higher speed, longer durat
ion, wide fetch, and deeper wave have more energy than other types of wave.
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 Q5
 Which of the following best explains why destructive waves are significant causes of coastal erosion?
 Multiple Choice
 The swash is weak while the backwash is strong.
 The swash is weak and the backwash is also weak.
 The swash is strong while the backwash is weak.
 The swash is strong and the backwash is also strong.
 Explanation
 Destructive waves have weak swashes and strong backwashes. The erosion of landforms is attributed to the strong back
wash of these waves.
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 Q6
 Which of the following effects would likely occur in areas near coasts during high tides?
 Multiple Choice
 submersion
 saltwater intrusion
 erosion
 typhoons
 Explanation
 High tides cause a temporary increase in seawater levels. Areas along the coasts could experience temporary submersio
n.
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 Q7
 Which of the following effects would be the result of repeated submersion in a coastal area?
 Multiple Choice
 erosion
 saltwater intrusion
 submersion
 typhoons
 Explanation
 Repeated submersion of coastal areas would result to erosion due to loosened soil and weathered materials.
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 Q8
 Which of the following best describes an area that experiences continuous surface erosion?
 Multiple Choice
 Some points in the area will be submerged in seawater.
 Constructive waves will bring back sediments to the area.
 Cliffs will form due to the erosion of the area.
 The area will remain intact despite erosion.
 Explanation
 Surface erosion removes the sediments and other soil particles in areas near the surface of the water. If this continues, th
e area that experiences surface erosion would experience submersion during high tides.
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 Q9
 Which of the following best describes storm surge resulting to saltwater intrusion?
 Multiple Choice
 Water from the sea enters the groundwater table when storm surges occur in coastal areas.
 Storm surges increase the amount of sea water in the sea causing it to intrude groundwater table.
 Groundwater enters the sea and goes back to land reservoir causing saltwater to mix with groundwater.
 Freshwater cannot be contaminated by seawater through storm surges.
 Explanation
 During a storm surge, the water level near the coasts rise and could reach more than 20 feet above sea level. When seaw
ater enters the coastal areas, it can go beyond the land and enter the water table. This causes saltwater to mix with the fr
eshwater in the groundwater reservoir.
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 Q10
 A strong typhoon is expected to landfall in the Bicol region.
 Which of the following coastal processes should the province of Bicol prepare for?
 Multiple Choice
 storm surges
 waves
 tides
 crustal movement
 Explanation
 Typhoons carry strong winds. Usually, they bring storm surge and huge waves along the coastal areas. The strong winds
can carry seawater that causes waves and high sea levels. Areas in the Bicol region where the typhoon would landfall sho
uld prepare not only for the rain and wind but also for storm surge and large waves.