Coasts Key Terms

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Fetch
The distance over which the wave has travelled
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Prevailing wind
The most frequent wind direction
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Swash / Backwash
The wave travelling up the beach / The wave travelling back down the beach
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Abrasion
Wave picks up large amounts of sand and rocks. they are thrown at the rock face blasting pieces off the cliff
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Hydraulic pressure
The force of the waves hitting the cliff so bits of rock break off. Air is forced into the cracks which blasts away fragments of rock
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Corrosion
Sea water is very corrosive and can slowly dissolve chalk and limestone. Sea crystals are formed as salt water evaporates
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Attrition
When pebbles and rocks in the wave bash together and become rounder.
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Sub-aerial processes
Processes active on the face and top of cliffs.
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Unconsolidated cliff
A cliff made of pieces of rock e.g boulder clay.
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Longshore drift
The movement of sand and pebbles along the beach in waves.
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Shoreline management plan
Managing the shoreline.
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Hard engineering
Using concrete to make barriers.
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Soft engineering
Using rocks and pebbles to make barriers.
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Managed retreat
Letting sea water break and the land becomes a salt marsh.
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Gabion
Mesh cages filled with lots of small rocks and pebbles.
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Rip-Rap
Lots of large rocks put infront of cliffs.
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Groyne
Wooden or concrete construction build along the beach going out to sea.
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Revetment
Slanted wooden structures with holes in to slow down waves.
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Cliff regrading
Change the angle of this cliff.
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Joint
Where parts of different rock join together and can turn into cracks.
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Headland
Part of the cliff that is made of harder rock and surrounded by softer rock that hasn't been eroded as quickly.
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Bay
An area of land that is protected by a headland either side.
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Wetting/drying
When it rains the rock absorbs water and expands and contracts when it drys. This causes the cliff to weaken and parts to break off.
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Constructive wave
Happen in the summer. The swash is stronger than the backwash and so they deposit sediment.
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Destructive wave
Happen in winter. The backwash is stronger than the swash and so drag material away from the beach.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The most frequent wind direction

Back

Prevailing wind

Card 3

Front

The wave travelling up the beach / The wave travelling back down the beach

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Wave picks up large amounts of sand and rocks. they are thrown at the rock face blasting pieces off the cliff

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

The force of the waves hitting the cliff so bits of rock break off. Air is forced into the cracks which blasts away fragments of rock

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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