Geography- Marine Terminology

Question 1

Wave fetch

Answer 1

Distance that air blows over the ocean

Question 2

Wave crest

Answer 2

Highest point of a wave

Question 3

Wave trough

Answer 3

Lowest point of a wave

Question 4

Wave height

Answer 4

Distance between trough and crest

Question 5

Wave length

Answer 5

Distance between one crest or trough and the next

Question 6

Swash

Answer 6

Movement of water up a beach

Question 7

Backwash

Answer 7

Movement of water down a beach

Question 8

High tide

Answer 8

State of the tide when at its highest

Question 9

Low tide

Answer 9

State if the tide when at its lowest

Question 10

Backshore

Answer 10

Not affected by wave action

Question 11

Foreshore

Answer 11

Only affected during high tide

Question 12

Near shore

Answer 12

Exposed only during low tide

Question 13

Coastal erosion

Answer 13

The wearing away and breaking up of rock along the coast.

Question 14

Hydraulic action

Answer 14

Air may become trapped in joints and cracks on a cliff face. When a wave breaks, trapped air is compressed which weakens the cliff and causes erosion.

Question 15

Abrasion

Answer 15

Bits of rock and sand in waves grind down cliff surfaces like sandpaper.

Question 16

Attrition

Answer 16

Waves crash rocks and pebbles on the shore into each other, and they break and become smoother.

Question 17

Solution

Answer 17

Acids contained in sea water will dissolve some types of rocks such as chalk or limestone.

Question 18

Sand bar

Answer 18

A long pile of sand in the ocean, formed by the movement of water.