Erosion happens because of physical and chemical processes. Wind is a physical process that can move loose soil and sand from one place to another. Waves and winds together during strong storms, i.e. nor’easters, can physically eat into the shoreline and carry sand away from the shore. This is very easy to see on the outer shores of Cape Cod. Chemical erosion occurs when a reactive substance is delivered to surfaces and causes a chemical reaction that changes the stability of the surface. For example, acid rain can dissolved carbonate rocks. The dissolution of the rocks may destabilize a formation and cause pieces to fall off and be transported elsewhere.
Erosion happens because of physical and chemical processes. Wind is a physical process that can move loose soil and sand from one place to another. Waves and winds together during strong storms, i.e. nor’easters, can physically eat into the shoreline and carry sand away from the shore. This is very easy to see on the outer shores of Cape Cod. Chemical erosion occurs when a reactive substance is delivered to surfaces and causes a chemical reaction that changes the stability of the surface. For example, acid rain can dissolved carbonate rocks. The dissolution of the rocks may destabilize a formation and cause pieces to fall off and be transported elsewhere.