Surface and ground water flow, and freeze-thaw cycles may also play a role. Not all of these forces may be present at any particular location. Though erosion is a natural process, it can be influenced, both adversely and beneficially, by human activity. Some of the factors that may influence the forces of coastal erosion are discussed below. Return to the Table of Contents Coastal Geomorphology.
Geomorphology is the general form of the earth's surface and the changes that occur to it.
The coastal geomorphology of the Great Lakes region is of glacial origin. These shoretypes are comprised of material deposited by glaciers over ten thousand years ago. Layers of till or clay may also be present in the overlayer. Due to the variation in depositional environments, the composition and erodibility of cohesive coasts may vary considerably over distances as short as several hundred yards. The sand dune shoretype is generally comprised of glacially deposited sands and gravels that have been reformed by winds.