Coasts Key Terms

Question 1

What is a Constructive Wave?

Answer 1

A powerful wave with a strong swash that carries sediment up the beach, building it up

Question 2

What is a Destructive Wave?

Answer 2

A wave with a strong backwash that erodes the beach by pulling sediment away.

Question 3

What is Swash?

Answer 3

The movement of water up the beach carried by a wave.

Question 4

What is Backwash?

Answer 4

The movement of water back down the beach under gravity.

Question 5

What is Fetch?

Answer 5

The distance of open water over which the wind has blown to create waves.

Question 6

What are the processes of Coastal Erosion?

Answer 6

Hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and solution that wear away the coastline

Question 7

What is Weathering?

Answer 7

The breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface by the action of rainwater, temperature changes and biological activity

Question 8

What is Mass Movement?

Answer 8

The downhill movement of rock and soil under the influence of gravity.

Question 9

What is a Wave-cut Notch?

Answer 9

A dent or groove eroded at the base of a cliff by wave action.

Question 10

What is a Wave-cut Platform?

Answer 10

A wide, gently sloping rocky surface at the foot of a cliff, left behind as the cliff retreats

Question 11

What is a Headland?

Answer 11

A part of the coast made of hard rock that juts out into the sea.

Question 12

What is a Bay?

Answer 12

A broad coastal inlet of sea, often with a beach, found between two headlands

Question 13

What is a Cave?

Answer 13

A natural opening in a cliff face, formed by wave erosion

Question 14

What is an Arch?

Answer 14

A wave-eroded passage through a headland, creating a natural bridge of rock over the water

Question 15

What is a Stack?

Answer 15

A vertical column of rock near a coast, formed by the collapse of a sea arch

Question 16

What is a Stump?

Answer 16

A low rock remnant of a collapsed stack, often only visible at low tide

Question 17

What is Longshore Drift?

Answer 17

The movement of sediment along the coastline in the direction of the prevailing wind.

Question 18

What is a Beach?

Answer 18

An accumulation of sand or pebbles along the coast.

Question 19

What is a Spit?

Answer 19

A long, narrow ridge of sand or shingle that extends from the land out into the sea

Question 20

What is a Bar?

Answer 20

A ridge of sand or shingle that has grown across the mouth of a bay, enclosing a lagoon behind it

Question 21

What is a Tombolo?

Answer 21

A spit that connects an island to the mainland.

Question 22

What are Groynes?

Answer 22

Timber or rock structures built out from the coast to trap sediment being moved by longshore drift and build up the beach.

Question 23

What is a Sea Wall?

Answer 23

A concrete wall built at the foot of a cliff or the top of a beach to prevent coastal erosion.

Question 24

What is Rock Armour?

Answer 24

Large boulders piled up at the foot of a cliff to absorb the energy of waves.

Question 25

What are Gabions?

Answer 25

Wire cages filled with rocks that can be built up to support a cliff and absorb wave energy.

Question 26

What is Beach Nourishment?

Answer 26

The process of adding sand or shingle to a beach to make it wider and higher.

Question 27

What is Managed Retreat?

Answer 27

Allowing the coastline to erode and flood naturally in a controlled way.