Wind Waves and Cliff Shaking on Macrotidal Shore Platforms: A Case-study from North Yorkshire, U.K.

Abstract

Wind waves are a major erosive agent on the rocky coast. The physical impact of waves is also important in driving erosion above the splash zone. This occurs through the transferral of energy into the bedrock by the action of wave breaking causing microseismic shaking. In this study we concurrently measure wave energy and resultant microseismic shaking on a macrotidal shore platform at Staithes, North Yorkshire, U.K. It is found that infragravity wave generation is limited when compared to microtidal coasts and where it does occur it is confined to the wave breaking zone. Cliff shaking is broadly correlated to wave energy and strongly linked to tidal stage. The highest energy bands of micros..