Coasts key Terms Flashcards
Abrasion
When rocks in waves are thrown against the cliff wearing away the rock. This is an erosion process.
Attrition
When rocks in the sea hit against one another and the rocks become smaller, smoother and rounder. This is an erosion process.
Beach
A build-up of sand and/or shingle (pebbles) at the coast (where the sea meets the land).
Coast/Coastline
Where the land meets the sea.
Constructive Wave
A wave that builds beaches by depositing (adding) more material than it removes.
Deposition
This is where the sea dumps sand, and other material when it can no longer move it.
Destructive Wave
A wave that removes more material from a beach than it adds.
Erosion
The wearing away and removal of rocks.
Hard strategies
Something built by people to stop or slow down the wearing away and removal (erosion) of material (rock / sand) by the sea.
This includes include sea walls, groynes and rock armour (rip-rap).
Hydraulic action
Water is forced into cracks in the rock as waves hit the cliff. Air pockets in the crack are compressed and then expand, blasting the cracks apart.
Landform
A part of the Earth’s surface that has been naturally made. A spit is an example at the coast.
Longshore drift
The way in which sand, and other material, is moved along the coast.
Process
An action that leads to a result.
Sequence
The order in which things follow on from each other
Soft strategies
Ways to way to manage what is happening where the land meets the sea (e.g. the wearing and away of rock) that do not involve building or damaging the environment.
This includes beach nourishment, and managed retreat.
