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Subaerial processes, which are land-based, are often described as unseen processes. They work together to influence the rates of coastal recession, and they change the shape of coastlines. Subaerial processes include weathering and mass movement. These processes form part of the coastal erosion process.
Let’s look at weathering and mass movement in more detail. Note that weathering can be broken down into mechanical, chemical, and biological weathering, and mass movement can be broken down into flows and slides.
Weathering is the breaking down of rock in situ and is affected by climatic conditions. Temperature and precipitation have a massive effect on the type of weathering experience. The lithology of the rock also plays a major role because some rocks are more prone to weathering.
Lithology refers to the general physical characteristics of rocks in a certain area.
There are three different types of weathering: mechanical, chemical, and biological.
Mechanical weathering, also known as physical weathering because it is caused by physical forces, is the breaking down of rocks above the waterline. During this process, the chemical composition of the rocks is unchanged. Water also plays a prominent role in the process. Here are three types of mechanical weathering:
Chemical weathering is the erosion of rock through a chemical reaction where water reacts with the chemical components in the rocks. This happens through carbonation, hydrolysis, and oxidation.
Biological weathering is the breaking down of rocks by living organisms, such as plants and animals. This occurs in several ways:
Piddocks are clam-like shellfish that make their homes in rocks like clay and sandstone. They are an example of biological weathering.
Mass movement is the movement of materials downslope at a range of speed because of gravity. Water acts as the common lubricant involved in mass movement. Examples of mass movement are flows and slides.
Cliffs are eroded at the coast through marine processes and subaerial processes. The difference between the two types of erosion is that marine processes occur at the waterline and the subaerial processes occur above it.
Types of marine processes include hydraulic action (expanding trapped air causes the cracks in the cliff to expand), corrosion, and abrasions.
Cliffs at the coastline. Saltburn-by-the-Sea, UK, unsplash
As we mentioned at the beginning of this explanation, subaerial processes work together to influence the rates of coastal recession. These processes form part of the coastal erosion process.
The Holderness Coast in the UK is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe.
Subaerial processes are land-based processes and occur above the waterline. They include weathering and mass movement, which happen on the cliff rocks. These processes operate on the cliff lithology to weaken them and provide material for erosion.
Subaerial processes, which are land-based, are often described as unseen processes. They work together to influence the rates of coastal recession, and they change the shape of coastlines. Subaerial processes include weathering and mass movement. These processes form part of the coastal erosion process.
Subaerial processes work together to influence the rates of coastal recession. They include weathering and mass movement.
Longshore drift is not a direct subaerial process. However, it does indirectly remove the scree (broken rock fragments) collected at the base of the cliff face. Scree forms from weathering processes.
Cliffs are eroded at the coast through marine processes and subaerial processes. The difference between the two types of erosion is that marine processes occur at the waterline and the subaerial processes occur above it.
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