Which process occurs when waves pick up and throw materials like pebbles against a cliff face?

The process being described is known as abrasion, also referred to as corrasion. This occurs when the energy of waves causes sediment, such as pebbles and sand, to be picked up and then hurled against a cliff face or rock surface. As these materials collide with the rock, they wear it down, effectively eroding it over time. This mechanical weathering leads to the eventual smoothing and sculpting of coastal features.

Abrasion is particularly significant in coastal environments, where the constant wave action provides the necessary force for the materials to strike the rock repeatedly. This process contributes to the formation of various coastal landforms, such as wave-cut platforms and cliffs. The effectiveness of abrasion depends on factors such as wave energy, the type of materials involved, and the geological characteristics of the coastal rock.

Understanding this process highlights the dynamic nature of coastal ecosystems and how mechanical forces shape the landscape. Other processes, such as hydraulic action, attrition, and solution, do not involve the same mechanics of scraping and wearing down surfaces through the direct impact of materials being thrown against them.