Coasts - Key Terms Flashcards
What is meant by ‘erosion’?
The wearing away of something (in this case, rock)
What is ‘deposition’?
When sediment is transported by water from one place to another
What is ‘attrition’?
Attrition is when waves smash rocks and pebbles into each other, and they break and become smaller and smoother
What is ‘abrasion’?
Abrasion is when bits of rock and sand in waves grind down cliff surfaces like sandpaper
What is ‘hydraulic action’?
Trapped air in the rock is compressed by water getting into the cracks. This causes erosion.
What is ‘solution’?
Solution is when waves dissolve soluble bits of the rock
What is a ‘headland’?
A narrow piece of rock that juts out into the sea
If a cave is formed in a headland, what might it eventually become after a lot of erosion?
An arch
Why does an arch become a stack?
The insides of the arch are eroded until they are not strong enough to support the top of the arch.
What is a stack?
A tall column of rock
Why does a stack become a stump?
Stacks are weakened at their base by erosion and eventually will collapse, leaving a stump.
What’s an example of a stack in Britain?
Old Harry Rocks in Dorset
What is meant by ‘swash’?
The part of the wave that goes up the beach
What is meant by ‘backwash’?
The part of the wave that goes back down the beach
What is a groyne?
A wooden barrier built into the sea to reduce the effects of longshore drift
