Final answer:
Wave erosion typically creates formations such as sea arches, sea stacks, and sea caves, while sediment deposited by longshore transport processes results in landforms like barrier islands. Both processes significantly influence coastal landscapes and are essential for coastal management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The features typically created by wave erosion include sea arches, sea stacks, and sea caves. These formations are the result of the persistent force of ocean waves crashing against rock, eroding and shaping the coastline over time. For instance, sea arches form when waves erode a rock formation from two sides, creating a bridge-like structure. If the arch collapses, it may leave a pillar of rock called a sea stack. Sea caves are hollow areas worn into cliffs or rock faces by wave action.
On the other hand, landforms such as barrier islands result from sediment deposited by longshore transport processes. This transport happens when waves and currents move sand parallel to the shoreline, piling it up over time to form elongated landforms separated from the mainland. Barrier islands serve as a critical buffer against storms and help protect coastlines from direct wave attack.
Understanding these processes is vital for scientists and engineers who work to assess coastal threats and construct protective structures like breakwater systems, as these physical processes play a critical role in shaping Earth's diverse landscapes, from rivers to mountains and beaches.