sea wall Structure built along the shore, parallel to the shore, to protect against strong
waves.
spit Long, narrow bar of sand that forms as waves transport sand along shore.
wave-cut platform Flat, level area formed by wave erosion as waves undercut cliffs.
wave crest The highest part of a waveform.
wave height The vertical distance from wave crest to wave trough.
wave length The horizontal distance from wave crest to wave crest.
wave trough The lowest part of a wave form.
Points to Consider
- What situations would increase the rate of erosion by waves?
- If barrier islands are nature’s first line of defense against ocean storms, why do people
build on them? - Could a seawall ever increase the amount of damage done by waves?
10.3 Wind Erosion and Deposition
Lesson Objectives
- Describe the ways particles are carried by wind.
- Discuss several ways that wind erosion changes land surfaces.
- Describe how sand dunes form.
- Describe the type of deposits formed by windborne silts and clays.
Introduction
Moving water does much of the work of erosion that shapes the land surface of our Earth.
Wind also flows over the Earth’s surface, sometimes carrying particles long distances before
they are deposited. Wind blows from areas of high pressure to areas of lower pressure. The
erosive power of wind varies with the strength of the winds that blow, but usually wind
transports smaller particles like silt and clay. Somewhat larger particles may be bumped or