Geography: The Effect Of Wave Erosion

When standing on the sand on the beach you can feel the sand being washed out from under your feet. The sand being washed out from under your feet as the waves wash over your feet is an example of wave erosion. Waves cause a type of erosion. This type of erosion is most often seen at the coast or along the edges of rivers and waterways. The velocity of waves are affected by slope, discharge, and shape of the channel of the waterway. Erosion is found on all coastlines in the world. The effect of wave erosion can last up to millions of years or as little as a year. The Grand Canyon is an example of wave erosion and it took over five million years to form. Small rivers could take about a year of erosion to be seen. Particle sizes differentiate