The ocean affects our lives in numerous ways. In fact, it can impact the land that we’re living on. The results from it can either be good or bad. So here are the 15 Ways the Ocean Affects the Land that you should know. As the ocean is a huge part of the world, the influence they have to the land is also great.
Read more:
- Ways Oceans Affect Your Life
- Importance of Primary Productivity in Ocean
- Characteristics of Ocean Surface
1. Erodes Land
The ocean water is powerful enough to erode the land that is close to it. This could cause destruction and less land availability for humans. It may even affect nearby marine creatures. An example of an eroding land caused by the ocean is the coastline of Lagos, Nigeria. The Atlantic Ocean is responsible for causing the continuous erosion.
2. Creates Barrier Islands
Waves in the ocean can result in creating barrier islands. These islands are aligned with the main land. However, they are long and sandy. Even though they are also thin, barrier islands can actually protect the main land from destruction. Barrier islands can absorb the power of the waves.
Also see: Effects of Ocean Currents on Coastline
3. Forms Salt Marsh
The ocean also affects the land by forming salt marsh. Salt marsh is common along the coastal areas. It has its own kind of ecosystem as it contains plants that are able to withhold the sediments that are unique to the marsh. It’s an important part of the marine food web. It also contributes to the protection of the coastlines.
Read more: Ecological Uses of Oceans
4. Reshapes Land
What other things the ocean can do to land? Well, it can also reshape it. This particular one is closely related to the rising sea level. Apparently, as the level continues to increase, more and more waves can come into contact with the land. It will eventually undergoes changes from its former shape.
5. Flooding
The ocean can also cause flooding on land. Rising sea level is a significant factor that will influence it. The water from the ocean can get past the coastlines and into the mainland. This may or may not happen quickly but it will eventually take up most of the space on land.
See more: Ways to Stop Rising Ocean Levels
6. Storm Surge
Storm surge commonly happens during a natural disaster such as cyclones or hurricanes. During weather conditions such as those, the water level of the ocean is higher than usual. Thus, the water will enter the mainland and cause destructions.
Read also: Importance of Ocean Temperature
7. Rise in Housing Development
The ocean has become an attraction and a place for leisure to people. Houses are being built around the coastal areas as people are always eager to buy them. In a way, the ocean has caught the attention of people to alter the use of land. Many of the lands near the ocean are now available for people to live on.
8. Brings in Trash
This is one of the ways where the ocean can negatively affect the land. It is able to bring many trash along the coastlines. Despite that, it’s important to remember that people are the first factor of causing the trash. However, the ocean will transport it back to us.
See more: How to Prevent Ocean Dumping
9. Shapes Headland
The ocean can actually shapes headland. The crashing waves against the huge rocks on the coast lines helps to form it. Continuous flow of strong waves will erode the softer materials that form the land. What’s left behind is a cliff structure that points out to the ocean.
10. Creates Sea Cave and Arch
Ever wonder how sea cave and arch are formed? It’s all because of how the ocean water erodes the land. The water can keep taking the land away, making it hollow and form a cave. It may even erode the sediment at the base of the cliff. Eventually, a sea arch will be created.
Also see: Functions of Ocean Waves
11. Forms Beaches
Without the ocean, there will be no beach on land. The ocean waves carry sands, shells and rocks from one place to another. They are deposited over certain areas and continue to add up. In time, it forms what is now known as beaches.
12. Various Material Deposits
Beaches can be different from one another in terms of their composition. A beach may be rocky than others. Meanwhile, another beach can be quite sandy. It all depends on what the ocean carry to the land. The various materials they deposit can include decaying woods or marine plants and animals. Other than that, most carry fine sands and rocks.
Read also: Characteristics of Ocean Sediments
13. Makes Rain
Since the ocean holds the most percentage of water on earth, it’s no wonder that it’s a main source of rain on land. We receive rain from the ocean through the hydrologic cycle. As the rain falls on land, the water returns back to the ocean. The cycle of the water can begin again.
14. Prevents Droughts
The ocean can prevent droughts on land through rain. Land that experiences drought would not be able to support life as soil moisture is lost. Animals and humans will be at risk. However, the ocean can help to prevent this from happening as long as there is nothing causing the rain pattern to change too much.
Read more: Importance of Ocean in Hydrologic Cycle
15. Submerging Lands
The ocean can submerge land as its water level continues to rise. In the future, what used to be the beach you frequently visit could be gone. Cities are at risk as well. Scientists have predicted that by the year 2100, many of them will be underwater.
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Some of the effects that the ocean have on land cannot be avoided. It’s how the cycle of nature works. But the one thing that we can control is how we treat the ocean as to limit any negative consequences.