Question

Destructive waves erode the coastline in a number of ways. Identify the term that describes when air becomes trapped in joints and cracks on a cliff face and when the wave breaks, the trapped air is compressed which weakens the cliff and causes erosion.

Answer 1

Hydraulic action

Step-by-step explanation:

Coastal erosion poses a significant threat to both human life and aquatic wildlife species. As climatic phenomena become more common and glaciers continue to melt, causing sea levels to rise, erosion also becomes more prevalent and affect coastal ecosystems.

Hydraulic action is one the main types of coastal erosion. It occurs when the air is trapped inside the cracks and joints. Therefore, when waves break in the cliff, this trapped air becomes compressed, leading to the erosion of these parts of the coastline. This is extremely harmful as people that live near coastlines become unprotected from floods and storms.