Coastal Interactions
Coasts are found wherever the ocean meets land. Coastal features are shaped by the interaction of waves, geology and local organisms.
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This introduction to coastal interactions gives an overview of the concepts and activities explored in this unit and describes how these investigations build an understanding of ocean literacy.
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Coastal and nearshore features are the result of wave action and, in turn, affect wave patterns and currents.
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The size, shape, and source of sand grains on a beach are the result of both biotic factors, like the presence of certain organisms, and abiotic factors, like wave energy, in an area.
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A tsunami is a series of waves moving a large volume of water, often caused by seismic events. They are potentially very dangerous and can cause loss of human life and major damage to structures on shore.