Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, John Lockridge, Longmont, Colorado. |
Wave refraction concentrates energy on headlands where zones of weakness, such as joints, faults, and non-resistant beds, erode more quickly, producing sea caves in those areas. The sea caves enlarge to form sea arches. Both sea caves and arches of various sizes can be seen in this view of the Oregon coast. Image Credit: John Lockridge, Longmont, Colorado. The hydrologic system, which includes all possible paths of motion of Earth's near-surface fluids including air and water, is largely responsible for the variety of landforms found on the continents. Heat from the sun evaporates water from oceans, lakes, and streams. Although most of the water returns directly as precipitation to the oceans, some of the water is recipitated over land as rain or snow. If it is precipitated over land, it then begins its journey back to the sea as "runoff." The relentless action of surface runoff, streams, and rivers, glaciers, and waves sculpts the rock into intriguing and bizarre shapes. This set of slides includes examples of wave erosion, wind and water erosion, valley shapes, and glacial rosion. The views are often dramatic. Many were taken at U.S. National Parks and Monuments. |
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