Erosion

Question 1

backwash

Answer 1

The movement of water down the beach.

Question 2

constructive wave

Answer 2

Waves which help build up material on the beach. They tend to have a low frequency and strong swash.

Question 3

deposition

Answer 3

When material is deposited or left behind, eg when a river loses its energy and is unable to carry its load any further.

Question 4

destructive wave

Answer 4

Waves which remove material from the beach. The swash is weaker than the backwash.

Question 5

fetch

Answer 5

How far a wave has travelled.

Question 6

longshore drift

Answer 6

The movement of material along a coastline due to the angled approach of waves.

Question 7

mass movement

Answer 7

A large-scale downward movement of rocks and material.

Question 8

sediment

Answer 8

Small fragments of rock and soil that form layers.

Question 9

swash

Answer 9

The water flowing towards a beach when a wave breaks.

Question 10

Hydraulic action

Answer 10

this is the sheer power of the waves as they smash against the cliff. Air becomes trapped in the cracks in the rock and causes the rock to break apart.

Question 11

Abrasion

Answer 11

this is when pebbles grind along a rock platform, much like sandpaper. Over time the rock becomes smooth.

Question 12

Attrition

Answer 12

this is when rocks that the sea is carrying knock against each other. They break apart to become smaller and more rounded.

Question 13

Solution

Answer 13

this is when sea water dissolves certain types of rocks. In the UK, chalk and limestone cliffs are prone to this type of erosion.

Question 14

Suspension

Answer 14

small particles such as silts and clays are suspended in the flow of the water.

Question 15

Saltation

Answer 15

where small pieces of shingle or large sand grains are bounced along the sea bed.

Question 16

Traction

Answer 16

where pebbles and larger material are rolled along the sea bed.

Question 17

bar

Answer 17

A spit that has grown across a bay.

Question 18

bay

Answer 18

A low-lying inlet of land on the coast.

Question 19

constructive wave

Answer 19

Waves which help build up material on the beach. They tend to have a low frequency and strong swash.

Question 20

erode

Answer 20

The wearing away of the landscape.

Question 21

erosion

Answer 21

The wearing away of pieces of rock, soil or other solid materials

Question 22

headland

Answer 22

A high area of land that extends out into the sea.

Question 23

silt

Answer 23

Fertile sand-sized particles found in the lower course of a river. Also known as alluvium.

Question 24

spit

Answer 24

A stretch of beach at one end of a coastline caused by waves depositing material.

Question 25

swash

Answer 25

The water flowing towards a beach when a wave breaks.

Question 26

wave-cut notch

Answer 26

An area of erosion at the base of a cliff formed by the waves.

Question 27

wave-cut platform

Answer 27

An area of erosion at the base of a cliff formed by the waves.

Question 28

wave-cut platform

Answer 28

A flat area in front of a cliff, just below the low tide mark. These were formed when the waves eroded the cliff, but left a flat platform behind.

Question 29

weathering

Answer 29

The breaking down of rocks in situ by the action of weather, plants, animals and chemical processes.

Question 30

hard engineering

Answer 30

The use of man-made structures to control the coast.

Question 31

managed retreat

Answer 31

The controlled flooding of low-lying coastal areas.

Question 32

marram grass

Answer 32

A long type of grass found growing on coastal sand dunes.

Question 33

soft engineering

Answer 33

The use of natural, sustainable solutions to control the coast.