Coastal Environments Flashcards
Abiotic
non-living components within an ecosystem.
Abrasion
when smaller pebbles and rocks repeatedly hit or rub against the
main landform (river channel or coastal cliffs).
arch
wave-eroded passage through a small headland
Attrition
when stones carried in water knock into each other, making the
stones smaller and rounder.
backwash
wave in retreat
bar
a spit that has built across a bay to link two headlands.
bay
coastal inlet, similar to a cove, found most often on discordant
coastlines
beach
accumulation of sand and shingle found where deposition occurs
along the coast.
biotic
living components within an ecosystem
cave
large hole in the cliff caused by waves forcing their way into cracks
in the cliff face.
climate change
the long-term alteration of temperature and typical
weather patterns in a place
cliff
a steep rock slope usually facing the sea.
coastal flooding
flood that occurs when (often low-lying) land that is
usually dry is flooded with seawater
Concordant
has the same type of rock along its length
Constructive waves
strong swash pushes sand and even pebbles up the
beach; they have a weak backwash.
coral reef
an underwater ecosystem, consisting of corals that create the
reef
Corrosion
the dissolving of rocks by seawater.
cove
coastal inlet, similar to a bay but with a narrow entrance; found on
concordant and discordant coastlines.
Destructive wave
strong backwash pulls sand and even pebbles out to
sea; they have a weak swash
Discordant
bands of different rock lie perpendicular to the coast
Ecosystem
natural environment that includes the living (biotic) and non-
living (abiotic) elements that live and interact within that environment.
erosion
involves the removal of material and shaping of landforms – the
wearing away of rock.
fetch
the distance that a wave has travelled
hard engineering
protecting the coast by building structures such as sea walls and groynes
headland
cliff that sticks out into the sea and is surrounded by water on
three sides
Hydraulic action
the power of the water hitting the coastal cliffs; it is most
effective when the water is fast-moving
intertidal
the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high
tide
mangrove
trees or shrubs that live on the coastline.
mass movement
the downward movement or sliding of material under the influence of gravity
managed retreat
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
Salt marsh
found in the intertidal zone, characterised by salt-tolerant
plants
Soft engineering
protecting the coast by working with nature
sand dune
landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically
takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill.
spit
long narrow beaches of sand or shingle that are attached to the land at one end
stack
a large stack of rock in the sea that looks like a tall stone tower,
separated from the main shoreline.
storm surge
a change in sea level that is caused by a storm.
swash
oncoming wave
Subaerial
on the surface of the land, below the atmosphere
stump
an isolated pillar of rock left when the top of an arch has collapsed.
weathering
the breakdown and decay of rocks by natural processes, without the involvement of any moving force.
wave cut platform
narrow flat areas often found at the base of a sea cliff
created by erosion
tsunami
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
abrasion
waves pick up material and hurl it at the coast
attrition (or corrasion)
material (e.g rocks) carried by waves bump against each other, then get worn smaller and smoother
hydraulic action
the sheer force of waves hitting the coast
corrosion (or solution)
slightly acidic seawater gradually dissolves some types of coastal rock, e.g. limestone
longshore drift
the movement of sediments along the coast by wave action.
