Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Geography Paper 1 > Coast definitions > Flashcards

Coast definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Abrasion

A

A form of erosion where loose material and sediment ‘sandpapers’ the walls and floor of a river, cliff or glacier. Also known as attrition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Backshore

A

The upper beach closest to the land, including any cliffs or sand dunes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Bar

A

A section of sand caused by deposition. They join two sides of a bay together, creating a lagoon behind the bar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Beach morphology

A

The surface shape of the beach

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Beach nourishment

A

The addition of sand and sediment to an eroding beach by humans. The new material will be eroded by the sea which saves the cliffs or sand dunes from erosion or recession

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Coastal recession

A

The retreat of a coastline due to erosion, sea-level rise or submergence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Concordant coast

A

A coastline where bands of alternate geology run parallel to the coast

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Corrasion

A

A form of mechanical erosion where material and sediment in the sea is flung at the cliff-face as waves break against it, this breaks up the rocks making the cliff

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Corrosion

A

The weak acid in seawater and some types of seaweed react with particular rock minerals, causing erosion and weakening

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Dalmation coast

A

A concordant coastline with several river valleys running perpendicular to the coast. These valleys become flooded due to sea-levels rising and produce long islands and inlets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

DEFRA’s 1:1 Cost-Benefit Analysis

A

The evaluation of a coastal town’s economic value compared to the cost of the management required

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Discordant coast

A

A coastline where bands of alternate geology run perpendicular to the shore

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Dynamic Equilibrium

A

A system where its inputs and outputs are in balance. Short term changes can affect this balance, negative feedback loops help to take the system back to dynamic equilibrium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Emergent coast

A

A coastline that is advancing relative to the sea level at the time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Estuary

A

The point at where a river meets an ocean, often muddy or silty. Sometimes estuaries become exposed at low tide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Eustatic

A

Global changes to sea levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Fetch

A

The length of water over which the wind has travelled

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Fjord

A

Long narrow inlet of sea water which is between steep mountains. They are created when sea levels rise relative to the land, flooding coastal glacial valleys

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Foreshore

A

The lower part of the beach covered twice a day at high tide (the part of the beach that receives the most regular wave action)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Freeze thaw

A

A form of physical sub-aerial weathering where water freezes in the cracks of a rock, expands and enlarges the crack. This weakens the rock overtime leaving it more open to erosion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Geology

A

The physical structure and arrangement of a rock

22
Q

Glacial erosion

A

The removal of loose material by glacier ice, involving plucking, abrasion, crushing and basal meltwater (necessary in the formation of fjords)

23
Q

Grading

A

The layering of sediments based on their size

24
Q

Groyne

A

A form of hard engineering. Low lying concrete or wooden walls, constructed perpendicular to the sea front, and run out to sea. They encourage the trapping of sediment to reduce erosion caused by longshore drift or winds

25
Q

Hard management

A

The use of concrete structures to reduce or halt the recession of a coastline. Includes groynes, rock armour, sea walls

26
Q

High energy environment

A

A coast where wave action is predominately large destructive waves, causing much erosion

27
Q

Hydraulic action

A

The pressure of compressed air forced into cracks in a rock face will cause the rock to weaken and break apart

28
Q

ICZM

A

Integrated Coastal Zone Management
- Large sections of coastline (often sediment cells) are managed with one integrated strategy and management occurs between different political boundaries. It usually follows a holistic approach and takes into consideration different players

29
Q

Impermeable

A

A rock that does not allow water to pass through it

30
Q

Isotatic

A

A local change in sea level due to a change in local coastline or land height

31
Q

Littoral cell

A

An area of coastline which has all sediment processes occuring- erosion, transportation and deposition.
Not a closed system.

32
Q

Longshore drift

A

The transportation of sediment along a beach. Longshore drift is determined by the direction of the prevailing wind

33
Q

Low-energy environment

A

A coast where wave action is predominately small constructive waves. Depositon usually takes place leading to beach accretion

34
Q

Mass movement

A

When there is a large downhill movement of material, usually from a cliff-face, as the rock is often weak there due to erosion. The movement is caused by gravity

35
Q

Near shore

A

The area before the shore where the wave steepens and breaks before they reach the shore, and then reform before breaking on the shore. It extends from the low tide zone and then out to sea

36
Q

Permeable

A

A rock that allows water to pass through it

37
Q

Plant succession

A

Changes to a plant community over time due to adaptation to changing growing conditions (e.g sand dunes and salt marshes)

38
Q

Ria

A

Narrow winding inlet which is deepest at the mouth, formed when sea level rise causes coastal valleys to flood

39
Q

Rock armour

A

Large rocks or concrete blocks, used as barricades to reduce marine erosion at the base of cliffs

40
Q

Saltation

A

A form of transportation where smaller sediment bounces along the seabed pushed by currents. This sediment is too heavy to be picked up by the flow of the water

41
Q

Salt marsh

A

In sheltered bays or behind spits, salts and minerals will build up. Vegetation may establish, further stabilising the marsh

42
Q

Sand dune

A

A depositional landform, where sand and sediment build up around driftwood and accumulate over time

43
Q

Sea wall

A

A hard-management coastal defence, where a concrete wall is built parallel to the seafront, to redirect the energy of waves away from sensitive cliffs or the edge of a coastal town

44
Q

Sediment cell

A

Sections of the coast boardered by prominent headlands. Within these sections, the movement of sediment is almost contained, and the flows of sediment should act in dynamic equilibrium

45
Q

Sediment budget

A

Uses data of inputs, outputs, stores and transfers to assess the gains and losses of sediment within a sediment cell

46
Q

SMP

A

Shoreline Management Plan
- identifies all the activities, both natural and human, which occur within the coastline area of each sediment cell
- They use this to recommend a combination of four actions for each stretch of that coastline
- Hold the Line, Advance the Line, Managed Realignment and No Active Intervention

47
Q

Soft management

A

The use of natural materials and environmentally sustainable approaches to reduce coastal recessions.
Includes: beach nourishment, managed retreat and sand dune encouragement

48
Q

Spit

A

A long depositional landform, formed from sand and shingle

49
Q

Subaerial processes

A

The combination of mass movement and weathering that affects the coastal land above sea

50
Q

Till

A

Deposit of angular rock fragments in a finer medium

51
Q

Tombola

A

A spit joining a mainland to an island

52
Q

Wave quarrying

A

When air is trapped and compressed against a cliff which causes rock fragments to break off the cliff over time

Geography Paper 1 (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions