Erosion

This page is available in multiple languages:
Erosion (English)
浸食 (日本語)
Erosión (Español)
Érosion (Français)

Beach erosion caused by Hurricane Irene in October of 1999.

Physical removal of sand from the beach which is transported offshore, alongshore, or into bays and lagoons via inlets. Erosion results in shoreline recession—landward retreat of a shoreline indicator such as the high water line, vegetation line or dune line. Opposite of accretion.

See this primer from Australia on Coastal Dune Erosion.