Which of the following wave actions is a process of erosion

Analyze the question: The question asks which option is a process of erosion by waves. Be careful: some options are processes of transportation, not erosion.

Explain the concept:

Marine (wave) erosion happens in four main ways:

1. Hydraulic action: Waves crash against the cliff or rock face. They force water and compressed air into cracks, and the pressure widens the cracks and breaks the rock apart.
2. Abrasion (corrasion): Waves hurl sand, pebbles and boulders against the cliff and wear it away.
3. Attrition: Rock particles collide and break into smaller, rounder pieces.
4. Solution (corrosion): Soluble rocks like limestone are dissolved by seawater.

Transportation of material by water happens through:

• Traction: large pebbles and boulders roll along the bed.
• Saltation: smaller particles bounce along the bed.
• Suspension: fine particles are carried within the water.
• Solution: dissolved materials are carried along.

Solve step by step:

• A. Traction is a transportation process, so it is out.
• B. Hydraulic action is a wave erosion process, so it fits.
• C. Saltation is a transportation process, so it is out.
• D. Suspension is a transportation process, so it is out.

hydraulic**.

Tip: Remember the erosion processes with "HACS": Hydraulic action, Abrasion, Attrition (a second A), and Solution. Remember the transport processes with "TSSS": Traction, Saltation, Suspension, Solution. If an option is one of the T-S-S words, it is transportation, not erosion. Solution appears in both lists, so it is the one to watch for.