Coastal Environments

Question 1

Abiotic

Answer 1

non-living components within an ecosystem.

Question 2

Abrasion

Answer 2

when smaller pebbles and rocks repeatedly hit or rub against the
main landform (river channel or coastal cliffs).

Question 3

arch

Answer 3

wave-eroded passage through a small headland

Question 4

Attrition

Answer 4

when stones carried in water knock into each other, making the
stones smaller and rounder.

Question 5

backwash

Answer 5

wave in retreat

Question 6

bar

Answer 6

a spit that has built across a bay to link two headlands.

Question 7

bay

Answer 7

coastal inlet, similar to a cove, found most often on discordant
coastlines

Question 8

beach

Answer 8

accumulation of sand and shingle found where deposition occurs
along the coast.

Question 9

biotic

Answer 9

living components within an ecosystem

Question 10

cave

Answer 10

large hole in the cliff caused by waves forcing their way into cracks
in the cliff face.

Question 11

climate change

Answer 11

the long-term alteration of temperature and typical
weather patterns in a place

Question 12

cliff

Answer 12

a steep rock slope usually facing the sea.

Question 13

coastal flooding

Answer 13

flood that occurs when (often low-lying) land that is
usually dry is flooded with seawater

Question 14

Concordant

Answer 14

has the same type of rock along its length

Question 15

Constructive waves

Answer 15

strong swash pushes sand and even pebbles up the
beach; they have a weak backwash.

Question 16

coral reef

Answer 16

an underwater ecosystem, consisting of corals that create the
reef

Question 17

Corrosion

Answer 17

the dissolving of rocks by seawater.

Question 18

cove

Answer 18

coastal inlet, similar to a bay but with a narrow entrance; found on
concordant and discordant coastlines.

Question 19

Destructive wave

Answer 19

strong backwash pulls sand and even pebbles out to
sea; they have a weak swash

Question 20

Discordant

Answer 20

bands of different rock lie perpendicular to the coast

Question 21

Ecosystem

Answer 21

natural environment that includes the living (biotic) and non-
living (abiotic) elements that live and interact within that environment.

Question 22

erosion

Answer 22

involves the removal of material and shaping of landforms – the
wearing away of rock.

Question 23

fetch

Answer 23

the distance that a wave has travelled

Question 24

hard engineering

Answer 24

protecting the coast by building structures such as sea walls and groynes

Question 25

headland

Answer 25

cliff that sticks out into the sea and is surrounded by water on three sides

Question 26

Hydraulic action

Answer 26

the power of the water hitting the coastal cliffs; it is most effective when the water is fast-moving

Question 27

intertidal

Answer 27

the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide

Question 28

mangrove

Answer 28

trees or shrubs that live on the coastline.

Question 29

mass movement

Answer 29

the downward movement or sliding of material under the influence of gravity

Question 30

managed retreat

Answer 30

when a decision to no longer hold the line is made. Residents, buildings, and infrastructure are moved away from the coast. No further action is taken to limit the flood or erosion risk

Question 31

Salt marsh

Answer 31

found in the intertidal zone, characterised by salt-tolerant plants

Question 32

Soft engineering

Answer 32

protecting the coast by working with nature

Question 33

sand dune

Answer 33

landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill.

Question 34

spit

Answer 34

long narrow beaches of sand or shingle that are attached to the land at one end

Question 35

stack

Answer 35

a large stack of rock in the sea that looks like a tall stone tower, separated from the main shoreline.

Question 36

storm surge

Answer 36

a change in sea level that is caused by a storm.

Question 37

swash

Answer 37

oncoming wave

Question 38

Subaerial

Answer 38

on the surface of the land, below the atmosphere

Question 39

stump

Answer 39

an isolated pillar of rock left when the top of an arch has collapsed.

Question 40

weathering

Answer 40

the breakdown and decay of rocks by natural processes, without the involvement of any moving force.

Question 41

wave cut platform

Answer 41

narrow flat areas often found at the base of a sea cliff created by erosion

Question 42

tsunami

Answer 42

a series of extremely long waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean, usually the result of an earthquake below or near the ocean floor

Question 43

abrasion

Answer 43

waves pick up material and hurl it at the coast

Question 44

attrition (or corrasion)

Answer 44

material (e.g rocks) carried by waves bump against each other, then get worn smaller and smoother

Question 45

hydraulic action

Answer 45

the sheer force of waves hitting the coast

Question 46

corrosion (or solution)

Answer 46

slightly acidic seawater gradually dissolves some types of coastal rock, e.g. limestone

Question 47

longshore drift

Answer 47

the movement of sediments along the coast by wave action.