Just a reminder that our coastlines are vulnerable to common catastrophes such as hurricanes. This is a satellite photo of Hurricane Fran, which did terrible damage to North Carolina in September 1996.
A typical beach scene, Montana de Oro State Park, California. Wave refraction causes waves to focus on the headland in the background and spread out in the bay in the foreground. Note that waves on the headland are much taller than those in the bay. Sand is deposited in the low-energy bay and eroded from the high-energy headland.
Another view of an eroding headland and a quiet bay. Continued erosion will eventually separate the point from the mainland, forming a little island known as a sea stack.
A wave-cut bench at low tide, northern California coast. Wave action eroded the rocks at the low-tide level to a flat platform.
An uplifted wave-cut bench, also known as a marine terrace. Big Sur coastline, California. Home of the Big Sur Marathon.
Another marine terrace, near Manchester, northern California coast. There are many sea stacks in this area.
Tide in at Fundy National Park, New Brunswick, Canada. The tidal range here is several meters. Tides tend to be higher at higher latitudes.
Tide out, Fundy National Park.
