What occurs when the sea falls or land rises, resulting in an emergent shoreline?

When the sea falls or land rises, resulting in an emergent shoreline, land uplift is the phenomenon that occurs. This process can be caused by various geological activities, such as tectonic movements, where the tectonic plates shift and elevate land above sea level. As this uplift happens, areas that were once submerged can emerge, leading to the formation of new coastal land.

Emergent shorelines often exhibit features like raised beaches or terraces, indicating where the former shoreline was located. The natural processes of erosion and deposition can still occur in this context but are not the primary factors responsible for the emergence itself. Understanding land uplift is essential for studying changes in coastal geology and environmental shifts over time.