In what way do waves facilitate coastal erosion?

Waves facilitate coastal erosion primarily by carrying energy that acts on rock and sediment along coastlines. When waves break upon the shore, they exert force on the materials at the coast, leading to the physical wearing away of these surfaces. This energy is powerful enough to chip away at rock, break apart larger pieces, and transport smaller particles away from the shoreline.

Through repeated wave action, particularly in storm conditions when waves are larger and more energetic, significant amounts of material can be removed from cliffs and beaches. This ongoing process contributes to the reshaping of the coastline, resulting in features such as cliffs becoming steeper or eroding back, and beaches thinning or disappearing over time. This clearly illustrates the dynamic interaction between wave energy and coastal geology, making it the core mechanism behind coastal erosion.

Other options do not accurately describe the role of waves in coastal erosion; they focus instead on functions that do not promote erosion or misrepresent the way waves interact with coastal landforms.