Coasts key words

Question 1

Abrasion

Answer 1

A form of erosion where loose material and sediment erodes the walls and floor of the river cliff or glacier.

Question 2

Backshore

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Bar

Answer 3

A section of sand caused by deposition

Question 4

Beach morphology

Answer 4

The surface shape of the beach

Question 5

Beach nourishment

Answer 5

The addition of sand and sediment to and eroding beach by humans.

Question 6

Coastal recession

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Concordant coast

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Corrasion

Answer 8

A form of mechanical erosion where material and sediment in the sea is flung at the cliff face as waves break against it

Question 9

Corrosion

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Dalmatian coast

Answer 10

A concordant coastline with several river valleys running perpendicular to the coast. These valleys become flooded duet sea level rise and produce long islands

Question 11

Discordant coast

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Dynamic equilibrium

Answer 12

A system where inputs and outputs are in balance.

Question 13

Emergent coast

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Estuary

Answer 14

The point at where the river meets an ocean. Sometimes they become exposed at low tide

Question 15

Eustatic

Answer 15

Global changes to sea level

Question 16

Fetch

Answer 16

The length of water over which the wind has travelled

Question 17

Fjord

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Foreshore

Answer 18

The lower part of the beach covered at high tide

Question 19

Freeze thaw

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Geology

Answer 20

The physical structure and arrangement of a rock

Question 21

High energy coastline

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Hydraulic action

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Isostatic

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Littoral cell

Answer 24

An area of coastline which has all sediment processes occurring sources, transport and sinks. A littoral cell is not a closed system.

Question 25

Longshore drift

Answer 25

The movement of material, such as sand and stones, along a coastline caused by the movement of waves.

Question 26

Low-energy environment

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Mass movement

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Nearshore

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Ria

Answer 29

Narrow winding inlet which is deepest at the mouth, formed when sea levels rise causing coastal valleys to flood.

Question 30

Saltation

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Solution

Answer 31

Dissolved minerals are carried by the sea

Question 32

Salt marsh

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Sediment cell

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Submergent coast

Answer 34

A coast that is sinking relative to the sea level at the time