shoreline erosion
Beach gradually disappearing
Shoreline erosion is the gradual wearing away of land along coastlines, lakeshores, and riverbanks by the action of water, waves, currents, and wind.
This natural process becomes a concern when it threatens buildings, roads, or other human infrastructure, or when human activity accelerates it beyond natural rates.
Beaches may lose sand, cliffs may crumble, and property lines may literally disappear into the water.
The county installed rock barriers to slow shoreline erosion.
- sea-level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
- bluffsMisleads about one's position
- coastal developmentBuilding on shore areas
- subsidenceGradual ground sinking
- wave actionMotion of ocean swells
scouring · washing away · overwash · habitat loss · undercutting · storm surges · king tides · tidal currents · dredging · seawall · sand mining · wetlands · riprap · groynes · urbanization · disappearing · losing ground · high water mark
- Lake OntarioToronto, Rochester, Kingston, Hamilton, Niagara River
- recreation ecologysoil compaction, habitat disruption, trampling, overuse, habitat loss
- Great LakesLake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Ontario
- dam managementsluice gates, water storage, storage capacity, water levels, flood control
- freshwater sciencefreshwater lakes, lake management, lake depth, water chemistry, dissolved oxygen
- glacial geologymoraines, eskers, drumlins, erratics, glacial deposits