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Coastal erosion (or shoreline retreat) is the loss of coastal lands due to the net removal of sediments or bedrock from the shoreline.

Storms and tides are powering a wave of erosion that is washing away the seaside dream for many in Perth and cities and towns up and down the coast.

More than 12,000 kilometres of Australia's sandy beaches are threatened by coastal erosion by the end of the century, with greater losses predicted if greenhouse gas emissions remain high.

For the 50% of the Australian coast that is composed of sand and in some places mud, the shoreline is prone to change, building seaward and in some places eroding landward.

Erosion is a primary concern for all coastal managers. Infrastructure around the world is threatened by inundation by the sea, which is predicted to increase due to climate change.

Coastal erosion and shoreline recession from sea-level rise is a significant risk to coastal Australia.

...understand how erosion affects the stability of our Western Australian coastal infrastructure.

The term sediment generally refers to inorganic and previously organic loose material that is, or has been, mobilised by physical agents including wind, waves, currents and gravity. Sediment is primarily characterised by its size and composition.

The waves most readily observed at the coast are those generated by the wind. Wind waves observed at a particular location are either sea or swell.

There is a constant flow of sand from the land into the ocean. Watershed run-off and bluff and hillside erosion bring sand to the beach.

Waves, tide, and wind dominate coastal processes and landforms. Rivers deliver sediment to the coast, where it can be reworked to form deltas, beaches, dunes, and barrier islands.