High-Energy and Low-Energy Coastlines + Wave Refraction + Negative Feedback

What are high energy coastlines ?

associated with powerful waves so occur in areas where there is a large fetch

Features of high energy coastlines

Rock headlands and landforms, fairly frequent destructive waves

Results of high energy coastlines

Coastlines are often eroding as rate of erosion exceeds rate of deposition

What are low energy coastlines ?

Less powerful waves and occur in sheltered areas

Features of low energy coastlines

Beaches, spit and sand dunes

Process of wave refraction

Waves turn and lose energy around headland on uneven coastlines

Wave energy is focused on headlands, creating erosive features in these areas

Energy is dissipated in bays leading to formation of features associated with lower energy environment such as beaches

Negative feedback according to wave refraction

Due to different rock strengths erosion leads to formation of headlands where resistant rock exists and bays where unconsolidated rocks and clays are dominant

This means increased forces of erosion on headlands but reduced erosion in bays as wave refraction dissipates wave energy and a beach protects coastline behind

This would lead to to dynamic equilibrium if conditions stayed constant